A coach for steroid users: Part II — the risks
Coaching steroid users is a subject where simple answers can be dangerous. This article looks at the darker side of competitive bodybuilding: growth hormone, insulin, IGF-1, underground drugs and diuretics. The aim is not to provide a how-to guide, but to show why experimenting with these substances can end very badly.
Why does a coach for steroid users matter in the first place?
The original interview revolves around one harsh truth: the closer a bodybuilder gets to stepping on stage, the greater the temptation to manipulate their body. Calorie intake drops, conditioning needs to be sharper, muscles need to stay full, and everything has to look right in the mirror on the day.
This is where growth hormone, insulin and diuretics enter the conversation. The coach’s view was blunt: growth hormone tends to be used during contest prep rather than in the off-season. Some use it alongside insulin during a bulking phase, but that does not make the choice wise or safe.
When it comes to insulin, the tone gets even more serious. An athlete with a fast metabolism might hope to gain some benefit, while someone with an endomorphic body type may simply gain fat. Misuse can lead to diabetes, coma or death. This is no place for an “I’ll try it and see” approach.
A coach for steroid users and dangerous choices
Alongside growth hormone and insulin, the interviewer also asked about IGF-1. The answer was blunt: a complete waste of time. The point was that if an athlete already feels the need to resort to such dubious substances, perhaps they have chosen the wrong path. Growth hormone and steroids have been used in mainstream medicine for years, but underground peptides are a different world altogether.
When discussing professional bodybuilding, familiar names came up: testosterone, Deca, Dianabol, insulin during bulking and growth hormone before competitions. But the key point was this: the pros are not pros simply because of the drugs. Genetics, years of work, discipline and training remain central.
This is where a major problem arises. Some younger or lower-level bodybuilders look at the top competitors and see only the “gear.” They do not see the years, sleep, food, injuries or routine. When the focus shifts entirely to ampoules and pills, what matters most gets lost: training and long-term health.
Underground steroid factories
The interview also included a very clear warning about “underground labs.” The coach would not touch anything from these places, even if it were free. The reason is simple: you do not know what you are getting. Purity, the amount of active ingredient and manufacturing conditions may all be questionable.
If there is less active ingredient than claimed, the athlete starts increasing the doses. On paper, the cycle may look extreme, yet the results remain poor. That leads to the wrong conclusion: “Maybe I just don’t respond normally.” The real problem may be poor-quality or counterfeit drugs.
In the eighties, megadoses were less common because more of the products people used were genuine. Now, some men might boast: “I take 2 grams of test a week.” That is not a sign of strength. It is risky behavior.
One example involved an athlete who took eight Anadrol 50 tablets a day. He only stopped when he started pissing blood. Frankly, that needs little further comment. A side effect like that is already an alarm bell, not a minor inconvenience.
A coach for steroid users: what to watch for
Looking back fifteen years, there was a period in bodybuilding when several top competitors died backstage or later in hospital. Diuretics were considered a major risk factor. The body is already under stress before a competition: dieting, workouts, low body fat, limited fluids and medication on top of it all. That combination can quickly get out of hand.
Lasix was singled out. The coach said the athletes he coached did not use it because its diuretic effect lasts six hours. In his view, that is too long, and he would prefer a milder or shorter-acting option, such as potassium-sparing Aldactoon. This is not a recommendation for you to follow, but an account of how the risks were discussed in the original interview.
Competition-day panic is a particularly poor guide. When athletes do not look as they had hoped in the mirror, they start looking for last-minute fixes. The simple truth is that if, a week before the competition, you are not where you want to be on competition day, your timing is already off. No last-minute manipulation will fix a poor plan.
It is even worse when an athlete starts taking Lasix three days before a competition and drinks practically nothing. The result on stage can be pain, cramps and serious health risks. A coach’s role should be to prevent these extremes, not talk about them as though they were normal.
A coach for steroid users and warning signs
When should alarm bells start ringing for a competitor? First, when a coach makes everything unnecessarily complicated. Some cycles look more like “nuclear physics” than well-planned contest prep. If an athlete no longer understands what they are doing or why, they have become too dependent on their coach.
Another warning sign is recommending high doses. Taking excessive doses creates a snowball effect. One substance causes side effects, so a second is added to mask them. Then the dose of the second substance has to increase too, and eventually the whole system becomes more fragile than before.
A good coach does not sell fear or confusion. They know how to explain where the limits are, when to ease off and why your health is not a bargaining chip. Your competition condition is temporary. The damage done to your body can last much longer.
FAQs about coaching steroid users
Does growth hormone automatically make you a better bodybuilder?
No. The original point was that growth hormone may play a role in some pre-contest protocols, but reaching the professional level also depends on genetics, hard work, years of consistency and training. A substance cannot replace these.
Why is insulin considered particularly dangerous?
Because misuse can have very serious consequences. The interview put it plainly: in the best case, the result could be diabetes; in the worst case, death. This is a medical risk, not an ordinary choice of dietary supplement.
What is a warning sign in pre-contest coaching?
It is a warning sign when the plan is needlessly complicated, doses get high and a new substance is added for every side effect. Sensible coaching should reduce risks, not increase them.
To be continued…
NB!!! The third part looks at what women do in this “world”!!!
Translated by Janar Rückenberg
Source:Turg.Fitness.ee
Come work out! ArtGym
