Written by Team MD
06 February 2020

 

 

Natty-or-Not

 

 

 

MD’s Legal Muscle

By Rick Collins, J.D.

 

Natty or Not?

The Secrets of ‘Natural’ Bodybuilding

 

Q: Are the competitors in “natural” competitions really drug-free?

 

A: Natural bodybuilding federations are dedicated to “clean” competition, under the theory that the use of certain ergogenic substances is cheating, creates an unlevel playing field, coerces athletes to use, and subjects them to intolerable health risks. While some of these contentions may be debated, athletes who choose to compete in natural competitions break the rules if they use banned performance-enhancing substances (PEDs). Obviously, we hear of failed anti-doping tests from time to time so we know not all athletes are drug-free. But are most? To get one opinion, I chatted with a longtime competitor in natural competitions whom we’ll call “CW.” I can’t speak directly to the accuracy of the information, but CW has competed in numerous natural federations and travels in a circle of trainers, dealers and competitors who share lots of inside information.

 

RC: So what percent of natural athletes are “fake nattys”?

 

CW: At the amateur level, approximately 80 percent. Pro level: 90 to 95 percent. Winner’s circle: 100 percent. I could name lots of names you’d know.

 

RC: Wow! That’s quite a claim! Are most of these competitors natural when they start competing or are they already “juiced”?

 

CW: I’d say 90 percent of amateurs begin natural, but less than 10 percent of the “natural pros” retain natural status. I had previously competed in open shows, so I came into the natty world with prior PED history. Many of the amateurs start using PEDs quickly though, because everyone wants an edge. Men and women have different preferences as to the product they choose to help their chances of placing higher, but they equally want that more elite physique. And once amateurs lose for long enough or are unable to attain a pro card, they reach out to people they think can help.

 

RC: Are there differences in PED choices between bodybuilders, Physique, Figure, Bikini, etc.?

 

CW: Yes. The “natural” men are typically taking the same products: testosterone propionate, growth, IGF-1, Anavar, clenbuterol and T3. Other than testosterone, “natural” women in bodybuilding and Physique generally take the same, just at lower doses. Women try to stay away from PEDs that cause overly androgenic effects.

 

RC: If so many athletes are using, how are they beating the urinalysis tests?

 

CW: Mostly waiting out the clearance times. If they’re smart, they self-test two weeks prior to show date. I did. But some use a donor’s pee. I did that, too, sometimes. I used my nephew’s pee. He’s 12.

 

RC: I know there’s a fake penis device that looks real to the collector and discharges clean urine. Mike Tyson recently admitted to using that before fights. But how do women pull it off, if you know?

 

CW: Women keep their suit on and slide it off to the side to give a sample. They stash a vial of urine between their butt cheeks. Some even put a lambskin condom you know where. They use their fingers to make the clean urine go into the cup. The trick is to keep the urine warm. Some use a heating pad on low all day, using a thermometer to maintain temperature.

 

RC: But many federations also use polygraph tests. How are “fake nattys” beating the lie detectors?

 

CW: The lie detector is a quick test – less than three minutes, generally. Most people pass it, even though they are using gear. I think it’s more of a money grab by most federations than a real effort. It’s about keeping up appearances. But if the federation thinks an athlete looks suspicious or they do not wish for them to compete within that federation, they flunk the athlete. It’s mostly BS.

 

RC: I’m sure these natural federations would take issue with your claims. Do you intend to continue to compete in natural shows?

 

CW: Absolutely. And I don’t think most federations really care. The collectors in some federations don’t always watch the sample being given and I have reason to believe that they sometimes never even send the sample to the lab. Some federations don’t test for all the substances banned by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) in order to cut costs. They only care when they’re bickering about whose federation is more “natural” and whose testing procedures appear most legitimate. If you’re going to brag about being a natural federation, you should do it right.

 

RC: Obviously I don’t condone violating the rules, but you paint a picture that’s more complex than most people think.

 

Rick Collins, JD, CSCS [http://www.steroidlaw.com] is the lawyer that members of the bodybuilding community and nutritional supplement industry turn to when they need legal help or representation. [© Rick Collins, 2018. All rights reserved. For informational purposes only, not to be construed as legal or medical advice.]

 

 

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