Do many powerlifters take steroids etc?

[5footsumo]

This is not from a moral point of view - just dont know if many do.

What proportion of guys in IPF take steroids? :D

Im told its high - but I thought it would be low since they do random drug tests and stuff - I know the WPC does not test so more of them will use AAS etc.

[Justin Hurley]

Olympic athletes are routinely drug tested under the strictest conditions but yet they still seem to get away with it.
I think it's only the uneducated or the lifter who takes risks who gets caught in the olympics.

Powerlifters don't have the same support as olympic lifters in this area, and I personally think don't have the same level of information / experience available to them, therefore I think the percentage is less.

I couldn't put a figure on the percentage of lifters under IPF who use. You can just never really know.
Passing a drug test doesn't really mean shit to me.

[5footsumo]

I thought that they started to do random drug tests now in the IPF - so that allows them to turn up unnanonced - and "catch" an athlete. Thats why depsite the massive poundages, I guess it might be a minority now.

Although they are lifting as much as the single ply non tested federations - which doesnt make sense.

You are absolutely right that passing a test doesnt make an athlete drug free for sure. They can do urine substitution for tested events, but I have no idea how they cope with random tests. Any ideas?

Are power athletes frowned apon for using drugs or is it (unofficially) accepted as part of the sport?

I guess I start to be suspicious at 9x bodyweight totals - but would never accuse since some people are just great athletes and can do that.

[Justin Hurley]

Yes, out of competition testing takes place, but usually it's the fellas breaking records or lifting big numbers that get picked on.

There are ways of getting around random tests but it gets risky. If you use gear your best bet is to just use a fed that doesn't test.

It doesn't stop anyone from gaining a huge level of strength from AAS and then going "clean" as you might call it. The lifter is unlikely to be at the level he was while in his prime using AAS, but the lifter is likely to keep a considerable amout of strength.
AAS increases recovery, so if a lifter used gear for two years and the AAS gave 10 times the recovery abilities, then even with a bit of strength crash from going clean, the lifter has given himself an advantage.

It's unfair for AAS users to compete against drug free lifters, as the AAS user could be taking the place of a hard working totally lifelong drug free lifter, but you are going to get it in every sport, some will just take it as the way society and sport has evolved and other won't like it.

There are athletes who are gentically gifted and with or without AAS would succeed anyway, but in my eyes these are few and far between.

[5footsumo]

Well said mate

[5footsumo]

Are they still able to recover quicker even after stopping the AAS?

BPO/BPC/WPC is the untested british fed isnt it?

[Justin Hurley]

No.. only recover quicker while using. Once off, your like any other drug free lifter.

BPO and BPC. WPC is the worlds.

[big-pete]

well said justin.