Steve Michalik, the phantom, winner of the Mr Universe contest was a heavy steroid user. His attitude was to fill the syringe fully, otherwise the shot was wasted. He ended up with a dozen or so liver tumors. He told televison crews he had green ooze coming out of his eyes. He lived and went on to say the day the doctors told him he was dying was one of the happiest days of his life.
In 1987, Birgit Dressel, a 26 year old west german heptathalete champion died on the operating table, in an intensive care unit, in Mainz. The exact cause of death was never ascertained, though it was believed she died after suffering a massive allergic reation to the combination of drugs she had taken. It was recorded later that she was on more than twenty different steroids at the time she was rushed into hospital. the damage to her body prior to her death included intervertabral disc injuries, inflamed spinal cord, fusion of the vertabrae, a pelvic dislocation, inflamed joints, and pathalogical degeneration of both kneecaps.
In 1987 and 1988 alone, 18 dutch and belgian cyclists died, thier deaths linked to EPO. They all suffered fatal heart attacks. None of them had any previous complaints prior to there deaths.
In 1956 Paul Anderson won the gold medal in the heavyweight divison in weightlifting at the Melbourne olyimpics. He was regarded as one of the best, non easten European lifters of all time. In 1984 he underwent a kidney transplant.
OD Wilson, superheavyweight powerlifter, died of a massive heart attack. He was 37 years old.
Dave Draper was considered to be the original golden boy of the sport of bodybuilding. He suffered a massive coronary.
Lyle Alzado, was the runningback for the los Angeles Raiders. He was a monster of a man. He died of brain cancer. Prior to his death he admitted he'd used steroids for sixteen years, from college to professional level and that he'd even continued using the drugs after his retirement in 1986.
Closer to home i flicked through the national newspapers to find the 24 year old rugby player Stewart Rock had died during the first half of a game from a heart attack. Steroids were blamed.
So too, in the case of the 25 year old English powerlifter, who died in training. The 28 year old Australian Paul Tillet died of a cerebal haemorrhage. 23 year old Sydney bodybuilder Maurice Ferranti was another one.
After Denis Tinerino won the pro universe, I went to dinner with him, Steve Davis, Tony Pearson and Don Ross. Denis Tinerino was later jailed for pandering. He ended up becoming a priest. Don Ross would die of heart failure.
I was in a gym in New Zealand when a certain Australian bodybuilding celebrity collapsed. The latter was afew weeks out from a show. He was rushed to hospital and put in intensive care. He pulled through, but didnt compete again.
Momo Benazzia, IFBB professional, died after winning the Dutch Grand Prix, october 4 1992. The official cause of death was given as heart failure brought about by extreme dehydration linked to diuretic use.
His death, more than any other, stirred alot of news in the bodybuilding community. Everyone was quick to point out the fact that steroids werent connected. Maybe they played no part, maybe not.
In 1987, Birgit Dressel, a 26 year old west german heptathalete champion died on the operating table, in an intensive care unit, in Mainz. The exact cause of death was never ascertained, though it was believed she died after suffering a massive allergic reation to the combination of drugs she had taken. It was recorded later that she was on more than twenty different steroids at the time she was rushed into hospital. the damage to her body prior to her death included intervertabral disc injuries, inflamed spinal cord, fusion of the vertabrae, a pelvic dislocation, inflamed joints, and pathalogical degeneration of both kneecaps.
In 1987 and 1988 alone, 18 dutch and belgian cyclists died, thier deaths linked to EPO. They all suffered fatal heart attacks. None of them had any previous complaints prior to there deaths.
In 1956 Paul Anderson won the gold medal in the heavyweight divison in weightlifting at the Melbourne olyimpics. He was regarded as one of the best, non easten European lifters of all time. In 1984 he underwent a kidney transplant.
OD Wilson, superheavyweight powerlifter, died of a massive heart attack. He was 37 years old.
Dave Draper was considered to be the original golden boy of the sport of bodybuilding. He suffered a massive coronary.
Lyle Alzado, was the runningback for the los Angeles Raiders. He was a monster of a man. He died of brain cancer. Prior to his death he admitted he'd used steroids for sixteen years, from college to professional level and that he'd even continued using the drugs after his retirement in 1986.
Closer to home i flicked through the national newspapers to find the 24 year old rugby player Stewart Rock had died during the first half of a game from a heart attack. Steroids were blamed.
So too, in the case of the 25 year old English powerlifter, who died in training. The 28 year old Australian Paul Tillet died of a cerebal haemorrhage. 23 year old Sydney bodybuilder Maurice Ferranti was another one.
After Denis Tinerino won the pro universe, I went to dinner with him, Steve Davis, Tony Pearson and Don Ross. Denis Tinerino was later jailed for pandering. He ended up becoming a priest. Don Ross would die of heart failure.
I was in a gym in New Zealand when a certain Australian bodybuilding celebrity collapsed. The latter was afew weeks out from a show. He was rushed to hospital and put in intensive care. He pulled through, but didnt compete again.
Momo Benazzia, IFBB professional, died after winning the Dutch Grand Prix, october 4 1992. The official cause of death was given as heart failure brought about by extreme dehydration linked to diuretic use.
His death, more than any other, stirred alot of news in the bodybuilding community. Everyone was quick to point out the fact that steroids werent connected. Maybe they played no part, maybe not.

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