Who was the earliest world champion you are convinced used PEDs?

Ah, the classic debate. I think during his earlier career, he was completely natty, just a genetic freak. However, he could've gone on the sauce later in his bodybuilding career.

If you look at physiques like Sandow and Hackenschmidt, or a more recent freak of nature, Eric Bugenhagen, it's not far off.

Steroids have continued to improve, so bodybuilders have gotten bigger (however, today's lineup doesn't compare to the aesthetics of the 70s or the conditioning and size of the 2000s/90s).

Also, HGH combined with Insulin creates a condition dubbed "bubble gut", which distends your stomach to create a pregnant feature. Look up "Phil Heath bubble gut"

Bubble guts also create hernias, so bodybuilding has been slowly devolving in aesthetics

 

Blame is a strong word...i do think it's important not to impose our modern views on steroids on how they were viewed at the time, as they wouldn't have played any part in the equation. They were looked at as another tool in the toolbox, with much of the secrecy born out of the fact they worked.

There's a multi-decade window where steroids were available and society's collective witch-hunt mentality of steroids that began post-Ben Johnson simply didn't exist. The window is even bigger if we look at when boxing actually started testing for steroids.

Boxing, in particular, has always been slower to react. The first positive test wasn't until Fran's Botha in 1996 in Germany. The U.S. didn't bother with testing at that point. Nevada's first positive test was Vargas in 2002. New York was the second state to implement testing (2002).

 

These guys are probably "all natural" LOL.

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This. If you count stimulants than even champions from the 19th century would count. It wasn't uncommon for fighters to use speed balls back then. Many Olympic athletes before the 70's regularly used stimulants and they still do. Steroids were pretty common place among many top athletes even by the early 60's.

That said steroids and stimulants can't give you ability and talent and everybody responds differently when taking 'supplements'.

 

That's a good question. Ali had some issues with his kidney ( Holmes fight ) and had various injuries. It would not suppose me if what he was injected to aid healing with stuff that would test as a banned PED today.

Steroids were around for years and are often prescribed to speed up the healing process, in addition to help with weight loss. It is known that some of the USA team that Ali at the Olympics used Steroids. A key point, steroids was not illegal when Ali was active in pro boxing....I think

 

Don't forget, fatasses like Povetkin, Ortiz Fury and Stiverne have tested positive for roids so you never know who's juicing

 

There isn't any think about it. Steve Reeves absolutely used steroids. That said even with steroids he had a very impressive physique. Also, you have to remember in the 50's, 60's, and 70's dianobol and other types of steroids were completely legal even though the Olympics did start banning its use in the 70's.


Sergio Olivia discussing his drug use?

BDJ: Could you relay your own experience with drug use?


SO: This is an area of great interest for people. I don't care who wants to take steroids, because that's a personal choice... that's his life. Now, today, everybody has access to them. I even saw in one of the big magazines that Arnold denies having used them, but Arnold was one of the first to bring steroids over to America. And everybody in the old days used them: Zane, Columbu, myself, Arnold, Larry Scott, Harold Poole, Dave Draper, and even Steve Reeves. There's no way to deny it. It wasn't much, nothing like today. But the development of drugs is much different. I used decca and dianabol, and that was something really big at the time; and decca was not considered that bad. It was even prescribed by doctors to help make your bones strong. Today you have guys weighing 200 pounds, and six months later they weigh 250-300 pounds! So you know these guys are taking something unbelievable. When they say they haven't taken any thing, you know that it's phony.

 

They were 100% legal when Ali was pro.

 

I don't think this will fly mate it will be just individual opinion with nothing to back it.

 

At any time did he mention in his book," Fight Doctor," that he injected Ali with PED's? Because I have the book and don't remember any such confession.He admitted to injecting his hands with novocaine,that's all I can recall.

 

Steroids have been rife in boxing since the 1960s

So it started at HW from the Sonny Liston and Ali era onwards.

I have read stories that 1980s was a particular peak period for open steroid use because it was so easy to get away with it, and proper testing only came in from the mid 1990s onwards.

 

Without proof I'd be pretty unwilling too. AJ is sculpted like a statue ,he has been tested umpteen times and passed every time.Fury and his cousin have flabby, non muscular physiques both have tested positive ,Tyson 3 times!

 

You really are oh so naive.

Evander Holyfield also never failed a test in his career.

The absence of a failed test is not proof that a boxer is clean.

Testers can be paid off, failed tests can be hidden. Also masking agents can be used making the gear undetectable.

 

The good ol days.

Maxine accused Jack Dempsey of using low dose strychnine (sic) which was common with endurance athletes in the early 20th century.