THE “SICKS-PACK” FEVER: AN INSIGHT INTO THE DRUG-FILLED, STEROID-ABUSED WORLD OF BODYBUILDING…

Bodybuilding refers to a process of body modification and shaping that is done through intense physical exercises, most notably weight training/weightlifting and incorporating dietary changes in order to sculpt one’s body in the desired way. Both bodybuilding and weightlifting are today recognized as official sports, but their history can be traced back to as early as the 2^nd century. Man’s fascination with physical abilities can be found in numerous ancient writings. Greek sculptures depict lifting feats and progressive resistance training dates back to ancient Greece when wrestler Milo from the magna Graecian of Croton in southern Italy is believed to have trained by carrying a newborn calf on his back everyday until it was fully grown. The Greek physician Galen described strength-training exercises using the halteres – an early form of dumbbell used in 2^nd century Greece. Initially, stones were used for lifting until they made way for dumbbells which were joined by the barbells in the latter half of the 19^th century. The earliest barbells had hollow globes which could be filled with sand or lead shot until they were replaced by the plate-loading ones that are used till today.

The 1960s, however, saw further transitions through the introduction of various kinds of exercise-machines into the slowly emerging concept of gyms and bodybuilding really grew in popularity throughout the 1970s following the release of the bodybuilding movie “Pumping Iron” and the subsequent popularity of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bodybuilding has been a constantly-evolving field. But, what started out as a form of training aimed primarily at strength-enhancement, has today, gone on to become a drug-abused racket. Ever since bodybuilding became a profession, stakes have become increasingly high, and in an attempt to make money, people have gone on to take almost insane measures in order to make it big in the industry. The late 1960s saw the first use of anabolic steroids beginning from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sergio Oliva and Lou Ferrigno and continued into the 70s, 80s and eventually the 2000s with men like Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman and Markus Ruhl. Bodybuilders such as Greg Kovacs, Paul DeMayo and Victor Richards attained mass and size that were never seen previously. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) move to introduce doping tests did nothing to improve matters as bodybuilders across the world continued abusing steroids.

But, it doesn’t stop there. Bodybuilders go to the extent of injecting artificial hormones into their system in order to increase muscle hypertrophy which refers to an increase in muscle size through an increase in the size of its component cells. Some bodybuilders artificially inject testosterone into their systems. These have drastic effects on one’s body and health and lead to conditions such as hepatotoxicity which refers to a chemical-driven form of liver damage and gynecomastia, which refers to an abnormal development of large mammary glands in males that lead to breast enlargement. Some of the other ill-effects include formation of acne, baldness and a decline in the body’s natural production of testosterone that leads to a condition called testicular atrophy in which the male reproductive organs (the testes) diminish in size and are accompanied by a loss of function. Use of other performance-enhancing drugs such as the human growth hormone (HGH) can lead to acromegaly. Acromegaly refers to a condition in which the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone which leads to gigantism, enlargement of the hands, feet, bones of the head and chest and even heart problems.

Several bodybuilders have paid hefty prices in the past for going overboard. Perhaps the best, and most famous example would be of that of Greg Valentino, widely known as the most hated man in bodybuilding. Valentino is an Italian-American bodybuilder whose bicep muscles are believed to be the world’s biggest. Valentino has been bodybuilding since the age of 14 for almost 30 years now.  His arms measured a ridiculous 28 inches and continued growing. Valentino is believed to have taken Synthol which he refuses though he later admitted in an interview of having taken equipoise and propionate. Valentino was arrested and eventually paid the ultimate price when his arms exploded while working out. There have been instances where some bodybuilders couldn’t brush their teeth due to the size of their biceps while some others used long spoons to eat.

These men have gone one step too far and brought about a frightening aspect to the sport and put its future in jeopardy with several health experts questioning its damaging effects. It is very unfortunate because weightlifting essentially is an art. When done the right way, it does have several health benefits such as improved cardiovascular and muscular strength, aids in long-term fat loss, increases the body’s basal metabolic rate and can even prevent osteoporosis. Just like any form of exercise, it can elevate mood and help fight depression along with numerous other health benefits.

But, it has been human nature to exploit and overdo things and man has forever paid a price for it. And no matter how many times he has paid a price, man continues to exploit. In a bid to make money and create an image for themselves, these men have pushed the boundaries of sanity and have fallen. What is essentially an art has today gone on to become one of the most loathed professions. One must realize that it is not humanly possible to go against nature and must learn to stick to his boundaries. As the old saying goes – “To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you’re overdoing it.” (Josh Jenkins).