What bothers me about bodybuilding is that it always has been an insider culture. In the old days you never knew what the big guys were taking or if they were using gear. Now we can look back and wonder when the steroid use began. All the hype about training was a lie because just about everyone since the late 50's used anabolic steroids to win a major contest. Up until about 1970 nobody confessed much at all about using those drugs. It was considered cheating. So we all read those muscle magazines from cover to cover trying to find the secret to make our muscles bigger. Along came Arthur Jones about that time and forever changed what bodybuilding was about. Jones required intelligence and information to succeed in bodybuilding. What a pity he didn't get involved in the game more. The sport has gone from bad to worse since the 1970s.
Anyone aspiring to win the Olympia must be truly desperate and quite insane if the drugs needed to win are what gh15 outlines. That is lunacy on a level never approached by any competitor in other sports except powerlifting. What a joke that a governor of California can stage a professional bodybuilding contest and not have it tested for illegal drugs. What the heck is that all about? How does he get away with that? Oh, sure, it is all political and all. He could do infinitely more for the sport but has virtually washed his hands of the whole sport. He doesn't have time for the old gang any more. Well, except for close mates who are in appointed positions in that state.
I think it is great that we can express our opinions. I am responsible for what I post. Is gh15 responsible for his?
Vince, the reason why "you never knew what the big guys were taking or if they were using gear" was because they were using very mild doses and their physical appearance was something that was obtainable-until you realized that you generally spent hours, days, and weeks in the gym and for the most part didn't look like they did. Although some individuals with exceptional genetics made great gains.
And as far as Arthur Jones, give me a break. He was a joke. A marketing genius and intelligent yes, but an authoritative figure regarding bodybuilding, no way.... He managed to sell individuals to the idea that if you used his equipment and trained like he prescribed your body would grow and be successful. The fact is no one grew from Mr. Jones's theory's (especially training natural) and that included Mike Menzer. I knew Ray Menzer very well and knew what they used and how they trained. The only thing that Mr. Jones grew was his bank account.
Now if you want to reference Vince Gironda (although he was a little wacky), there was an individual who was knowledable and intelligent regarding bodybuilding.
And the amount of drugs that gh15 has identified to compete in the Mr. Olympia is very real for some. There are those individuals who respond to drugs very well and do not require large quantities and there are others who do. And then there are just those individuals who do because others do-following the herd.
The bottom line (in my opinion) is that one should be able to get and use AS legally if they chose to do so. Prescribed by a doctor (and there were doctors in the 70s and 80s who willing worked with athlete's) Why not? It was controlled and not abused. Science has developed medicines that can improve ones appearance then why should one not be able to make the choice to use these medicines. Like women getting prescriptions for birth control pills for recreational sex and cosmetic surgery, etc., etc.
And I do not understand why you would blame "the governor of California" for not having his sponsored contests tested for illegal drugs. Please explain?? Also, your statement "I am responsible for what I post. Is gh15 responsible for his?".... Why would gh15 and anyone else on a "gossip and opinion board" need to be responsible for their opinions? How about each individual takes responsibility for their own actions instead of blaming others. If an individual desires to listen to an opinion on a internet board and take that as a recommendation then so be it. Self responsibility... Kind-of like the smoker who continues to smoke, then gets sick and wants to blame the tobacco company.
Individuals should make their own decisions based on information they have researched, the legalities, and how far they are willing to go in chasing their desires. The outcome should also be their sole responsibility. Not yours, not mine and not gh15's.
