The Science Behind Cheating Drug Tests In Natural Bodybuilding
Dr. Testosterone explains how a bodybuilder can use steroids in the off season and come out clean in a drug test.
Natural bodybuilding leagues put emphasis on drug testing all athletes to ensure that the competition is fair. But much like many other professional sports, just how effective can these drug tests be at weeding out "cheaters" and enhanced athletes from competition? This struggle holds especially true for bodybuilding. If an athlete only competes in one competition within the whole year, can they use PEDs during the off season, come off their cycle, and then compete without failing the test? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Dr. Testosterone explains how a bodybuilder can cheat a drug test easily to get the advantage over other athletes.
There's no denying that a drug test is an effective way to determine if an athlete has PEDs in their system. More often than not, the validity of the tests are not in question. What is in question is just how effective these drug tests are at stopping athletes from using performance enhancing drugs. If a pro sport only drug tests before a competition, an athlete can easily work their PED usage around those tests in order to come out clean.
This is the struggle natural bodybuilding faces year after year. In our upcoming film, Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life, some athletes even go out of the way beyond the leagues to prove they are all natural. Rob Terry, one of the leading natural bodybuilders in the INBA/PNBA, volunteers himself to drug tests randomly throughout the year. He does this to prove he's not gaming the system.
But only so many athletes can do this of their own accord. That's why during our conversation with Dr. Testosterone, we wanted to get the facts on how possible it is for a bodybuilder to cheat a drug test. Is there enough time between the off season and a competition to clear steroids and other PEDs from an athlete's system?
The short answer seems to be: yes. Each PED has their own half life. Dr. Testosterone admits that if a bodybuilder can find out the half life of a drug they are taking - they can then time it out with the competition date.
"According to the half life of a particular drug, you may estimate when is the competition and when is the drug test," Dr. Testosterone states in our interview. "So there are certain hours or days that it is eliminated from the system."
He goes on to say that beyond timing - there are other ways that bodybuilders can clear their system before a competition as well. These methods are actually even faster than relying on the half life of the drug.
Dr. Testosterone continues, "But you can take, for instance, a few pills and clear the system and after a couple of weeks you don't have them in you."
Ultimately, it's doubtful that many pro natural bodybuilders are using PEDs. The size and aesthetic of pro natural bodybuilding competitions showcase a wild difference in look compared to untested leagues.
Still, the doubt behind how effective drug tests are can have a huge impact on how bodybuilding fans react to natural bodybuilding as a whole. More importantly, it also showcases the challenge the IFBB would have if it decided to listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger and start drug testing themselves.
https://youtu.be/Qh9zRNMsDg8
Dr. Testosterone explains how a bodybuilder can use steroids in the off season and come out clean in a drug test.
Natural bodybuilding leagues put emphasis on drug testing all athletes to ensure that the competition is fair. But much like many other professional sports, just how effective can these drug tests be at weeding out "cheaters" and enhanced athletes from competition? This struggle holds especially true for bodybuilding. If an athlete only competes in one competition within the whole year, can they use PEDs during the off season, come off their cycle, and then compete without failing the test? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Dr. Testosterone explains how a bodybuilder can cheat a drug test easily to get the advantage over other athletes.
There's no denying that a drug test is an effective way to determine if an athlete has PEDs in their system. More often than not, the validity of the tests are not in question. What is in question is just how effective these drug tests are at stopping athletes from using performance enhancing drugs. If a pro sport only drug tests before a competition, an athlete can easily work their PED usage around those tests in order to come out clean.
This is the struggle natural bodybuilding faces year after year. In our upcoming film, Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life, some athletes even go out of the way beyond the leagues to prove they are all natural. Rob Terry, one of the leading natural bodybuilders in the INBA/PNBA, volunteers himself to drug tests randomly throughout the year. He does this to prove he's not gaming the system.
But only so many athletes can do this of their own accord. That's why during our conversation with Dr. Testosterone, we wanted to get the facts on how possible it is for a bodybuilder to cheat a drug test. Is there enough time between the off season and a competition to clear steroids and other PEDs from an athlete's system?
The short answer seems to be: yes. Each PED has their own half life. Dr. Testosterone admits that if a bodybuilder can find out the half life of a drug they are taking - they can then time it out with the competition date.
"According to the half life of a particular drug, you may estimate when is the competition and when is the drug test," Dr. Testosterone states in our interview. "So there are certain hours or days that it is eliminated from the system."
He goes on to say that beyond timing - there are other ways that bodybuilders can clear their system before a competition as well. These methods are actually even faster than relying on the half life of the drug.
Dr. Testosterone continues, "But you can take, for instance, a few pills and clear the system and after a couple of weeks you don't have them in you."
Ultimately, it's doubtful that many pro natural bodybuilders are using PEDs. The size and aesthetic of pro natural bodybuilding competitions showcase a wild difference in look compared to untested leagues.
Still, the doubt behind how effective drug tests are can have a huge impact on how bodybuilding fans react to natural bodybuilding as a whole. More importantly, it also showcases the challenge the IFBB would have if it decided to listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger and start drug testing themselves.
https://youtu.be/Qh9zRNMsDg8