Do you think skip = natural?
I was initially skeptical. His rationale as he explained it to me was that his immediate success at bodybuilding left him little reason to look for a competitive edge. That made sense to me. If I can beat you at poker using my natural and learned abilities and skills, why would I need to cheat.
Also, as I've stated previously, I competed against and trained alongside IFBB World Amateur Champion winner Yohnnie Shambourger for several years. I saw him day in and day out at the gym and noticed certain qualities that very few possess: remarkable consistency, incredible focus, complete dedication to his diet, and obvious genetic advantages. Most importantly, Yohnnie's physique and features never went through the rather obvious signs of a steroid user: No off-season bloating, never blowing up, never shrinking, and always in great condition at a low bodyfat level. I also don't find a contest weight of 176 at 5'7-8 to be beyond the realm of possibility. Yohnnie weighed 167 onstage in 1988 and 176 onstage in 1995. I truly believe Yohnnie earned his pro card without drugs and took 3rd place at the Master's Olympia drug-free.
To me, these are the signs of a dedicated and disciplined person. In my life I have found that the most dedicated and disciplined people prefer thoroughness to shortcuts. I believe Skip has the same qualities. Guys like Yohnnie, Skip, and Layne Norton don't have an "off-season". They don't eat at McDonalds. They don't pig out for weeks after a show. It's a way of life for them and they continue their lifestyle long after they finish competitive bodybuilding. Of the Pros I have known, I can tell you with 100% certainty that this description does NOT apply to ANY of them.