Arnold and steroids: the truth about the golden era
Arnold and steroids – this pair has been talked about more than any other gym myth. Looking at photos of Schwarzenegger from the seventies, when he was at the peak of his form, the same question comes up every time: was that physique natural, or just the fruit of pharmacology? The short answer: neither one in its pure form. The long answer is more interesting.
Arnold and steroids: the public admission
Schwarzenegger was never naive. Even back then he understood what it took to break through at the pro level. While most top bodybuilders denied using anything, Arnold spoke openly about it. In the small brochures he sold through Muscle & Fitness mail order, he dealt with the topic honestly.
The brochure was titled “Developing the Mr. Universe Physique” and reached readers in 1977. In it, Arnold’s own wording went something like this: “I’m not speaking for my colleagues. Yes, I have used them, but steroids did not make me who I am today. I used them to hold on to muscle while I was on a strict pre-contest diet – not to build it.”
Arnold later no longer held back from that line. In a recent interview with TALK magazine, he admitted it in even more colorful terms: “I breathed in and out everything I could get my hands on.” You could even see Arnold smoking a cigar between takes on Pumping Iron. One thing is important to remember – until the Anabolic Steroid Control Act came into force in 1990, using steroids for athletic purposes was not illegal in the US.
What Arnold and steroids really meant at Gold’s Gym
But the real line didn’t run where the 1977 brochure drew it. Bodybuilders who trained alongside Arnold at Gold’s Gym in California describe a much more liberal picture.
Ric Drasin, a former WWF wrestler and Arnold’s regular training partner, has recalled: “Over time, newer and more effective anabolics kept appearing on the scene. More and more sophisticated compounds kept coming in from Europe. Naturally, I tried most of them. The best was Primobolan from Germany – an injectable steroid, once a week, combined with dianabol. Guess who else was thrilled with that combination? Schwarzenegger.”
Drasin adds that he often got the ampoules straight from Arnold. “That combination was truly effective and helped Arnold win quite a few Mr. Olympia titles. Honestly, practically every guy at Gold’s Gym used it in the seventies. All kinds of stuff was easy and cheap to get back then.”
Primobolan and dianabol – Arnold’s golden-era combination
Were these two compounds really used only to hold on to mass during a diet phase? The answer is partly yes, partly no.
Primobolan at 200 mg a week doesn’t cause significant fluid retention, yet it effectively stimulates gains in strength and mass. In as little as 8 weeks it’s possible to gain 4–7 kg of quality muscle mass, most of which stays after the cycle. It is precisely because of this “dry” character that it is still popular among beginners.
Dianabol’s popularity comes instead from its immediate and brutal anabolic effect. As little as 4–5 tablets a day gives a strong result. The price is different, though: at high doses, part of the active substance converts to estrogen, which leads to so-called gynecomastia – in men the nipples swell and become tender and painful. There is also noticeable fluid retention.
Methandrostenolone, which was called dianabol in the seventies, is a 17-alpha-alkylated compound. That makes it one of the most effective steroids ever in terms of strength and mass gains, but also one of the more liver-toxic compounds in large amounts. This compound is quite likely one of the technical explanations for Arnold’s massive physique – although genetics still plays a big part here too.
Both compounds cause fluid retention. That is the last thing a pre-contest bodybuilder wants. It follows that Arnold’s steroid cycles were not limited to a “protective mode” during the diet phase – they were more likely run year-round, in the interest of muscle building.
What to take away from this today
Schwarzenegger has a physique that is strongly favored by genetics. Steroids are a big part of the story, but not the only one. It deserves respect that the man has admitted to his use – even if only in part. For today’s gym audience, Arnold’s story is a good reminder: what goes on behind the scenes can be very different from what bodybuilders’ interviews let the public see.
Arnold himself is today one of the most passionate voices speaking out against steroid use among young people. A contradiction? Perhaps. But if anyone knows what price comes with anabolic compounds over the years, it’s the man who tried them all.
FAQ: Arnold and steroids
Was Arnold’s steroid use legal at the time?
Yes. In the US, using steroids for athletic purposes became illegal only in 1990, when the Anabolic Steroid Control Act came into force. Arnold’s peak years fell well before that.
Are Primobolan and dianabol still in use today?
Yes, both compounds still exist on the black market. Both are illegal in Estonia without a prescription and carry real health risks – dianabol in particular, because of its effects on the liver and its conversion to estrogen.
Can Arnold’s physique be recreated naturally?
The short answer: no, not at the same size. Arnold’s genetics were exceptional, but his seventies contest condition cannot be reproduced naturally. The upper limit of natural training is simply lower – and that’s not bad news if the goal is health and long-term success.
Author: Janar Rückenberg
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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