As time has progressed, bodybuilding has transformed from the classical era of legends like Zane and Schwarzenegger into the contemporary era of giants, where various drugs and technologies have played an indelible role. Two conflicting voices have been echoing in the bodybuilding community:
Drugs will ruin the sport of bodybuilding.
Without technology, bodybuilding will lose its future.
I won’t pass judgment on these two statements today. Let’s set aside the right or wrong of drugs and focus on who is the real cause behind the prevalence of drugs in the bodybuilding scene.
Looking at the history of Mr. Olympia, we can see that contemporary bodybuilding has undergone roughly two leaps. The first leap was from 1965 to 1989, during which various steroids took the stage by storm. The BMI of bodybuilders broke through the natural limit of around 28 in the pre-1965 era and soared past 30. For instance, at the age of 21, Sergio Oliva had a staggering BMI of 34.
In that era, the mentor of the beast Yates, Mike Mentzer, stood at 173cm tall, weighed a remarkable 102kg, and had a BMI reaching the limit of 34.1. Unfortunately, Mentzer passed away at the age of 49.
It wasn’t until the early 1990s, with the introduction of growth hormone (HGH), that the sport saw its second leap. The successful debut of HGH allowed muscle mass to surpass genetic limits. This marked the beginning of the era of bodybuilding giants, extending to the likes of Ronnie Coleman and Markus Rühl, whose BMI exceeded 40. Even last year’s Olympia champion, Big Ramy, boasts an astounding BMI of 45.
However, since Ronnie initiated the true era of giants, bodybuilding seems to have hit a plateau. There are two main reasons for this: 1) The development of drugs has not made breakthrough progress; research has largely focused on side effects and human tolerance rather than groundbreaking advancements. While peptide research has been ongoing, no technological leap comparable to HGH has emerged. 2) Human limits have been reached. The current bodybuilding giants have essentially reached the limits of what the human body can endure, particularly regarding internal organ tolerance. The prolonged use of drugs and peptides has placed an unbearable burden on the internal organs of these bodybuilding giants. While drugs continually strengthen muscles, they do not fortify the user’s internal organs; instead, they increase the load on these organs.
So, why is bodybuilding evolving in this distorted direction? In reality, the demand of the masses and commercial interests are key factors.
Firstly, the public wants constant eye-catching challenges. Fitness enthusiasts hope their idols can repeatedly push the limits, always believing in the existence of miracles. Many who claim to advocate natural bodybuilding still closely follow and idolize these bodybuilding giants online, researching their training methods and diet patterns repeatedly. Little do they realize that training and diet under the influence of drugs are drastically different from natural conditions. This is what the public demands — to witness miracles and have idols. Imagine if bodybuilding had no drugs; would we still pay attention to the champions on the Olympia stage or the guy working out next door in the gym?
Additionally, a crucial visual influence comes from movies and television productions. Countless superhero images on the screen make you believe that miracles can happen anytime, anywhere. Little do you know that Hollywood actors, to maintain their on-screen image, rely on a combination of training, diet, and drugs.
Now, let’s talk about the commercial aspect. Since admiration and attention exist, commerce naturally follows. Unlike the era of Arnold, the bodybuilding industry has grown from a few million dollars annually to a multi-billion-dollar empire. Commerce propels the sport to repeatedly shock the audience and create miracles. Major supplement companies eagerly sign contracts with bodybuilding giants, including in the emerging market of China. Champions of various commercial competitions are also signed for endorsements.
Here, let me ask an unpleasant question: everyone has heard of the Gold’s Classic, the Night of Champions, the Olympia, and the Chieh Ching Night. They know about the Lu Family, the Warlock Team, the Storm Team, and even a Keifei team made up of Southeast Asians. But how many people have paid attention to the National Bodybuilding Championships? This is because there is no commercial drive, no giants to capture attention, and no miracles to create in a championship. Supplement companies prefer to make you believe that by using their supplements, you can become a giant like those bodybuilders. Even if you can’t become a giant, training plus supplements can still make you look handsome and well-built.
Therefore, the appearance of drugs may not necessarily be related to public aesthetics (steroids were born during World War II), but the development of drugs is undoubtedly driven by various factors. In the bodybuilding community, the proliferation of drugs is propelled not only by others but by you, me, and almost all iron-loving enthusiasts. These are just some personal observations. Welcome to discuss.
