Fitness influencer and competitive natural bodybuilder Jesse James West started his video with an alarming message. “Ste***ds are the most popular they’ve ever been,” said the bodybuilding athlete. As the fitness industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, the fitness influencer found the perfect spot to get some answers on the subject, the Arnold Classic 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

As the second most prestigious annual bodybuilding contest, the Arnold Classic and its one-of-a-kind expo attract nearly every notable personality in the fitness industry. After hearing impressionable young fans speak about taking PEDs to look like their idols, West’s first stop was with exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel. His goal? To reveal the dark reality of taking ste***ds.

Jared Feather, who works with Mike Israetel, bluntly stated, “They’re not fun to take.” Mike Israetel agreed with his fellow exercise physiologist. The bodybuilder explained that ste***ds impact every system in the body. While they help grow muscle, every other effect is negative. Besides long-term effects, Israetel explained how people on high enough doses might get psychosis.

However, the natural bodybuilder wanted to ask other experts on the subject. So he went to one of the most controversial YouTube bodybuilding influencers, Greg Doucette. The 24-year-old didn’t beat around the bush and said that Doucette once got busted for selling ste***ds. However, he asked why the former enhanced bodybuilder would want to reveal everything.

“Well honestly I want people to know about the dangers of this,” said the IFBB pro. The bodybuilding veteran exposed the reality of the situation. “People think it’s just bodybuilders… It’s everybody,” said Greg Doucette. However, the former powerlifter thought that the increase in PED usage had come from the pressure of looking good on social media.

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After hearing what Greg Doucette had to say, West decided to question the bodybuilding stars and fitness influencers who inspire impressionable fans to get into bodybuilding. While he went around questioning many of them, the voices of Urs Kalecinski and Sam Sulek stood out.

The modern-day bodybuilding icons set the record straight

West got a hold of the most popular young bodybuilder star, Sam Sulek. While Sulek said that people needed to “get big,” he didn’t encourage anyone to take ste***ds. In fact, he didn’t even address them. Instead, the 21-year-old fitness influencer said optimizing diet, progressive overload, and cardio should be the main priority. “It’s not rocket science,” said Sulek. He also spoke to pro bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski.

Despite being just 26, German bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski is already among the best Classic Physique bodybuilders in the world. So when Jesse James West asked him about using, the bodybuilding champion gave a reality check. “All the juice isn’t going to take the hard work off from you,” said the 2024 Arnold Classic Physique bronze medalist.

Hence, the 24-year-old natural bodybuilder concluded that while PEDs are unfortunately getting more popular, those who use them are mostly transparent. He also noticed that the pro bodybuilding competitors who use PEDs warned enthusiasts to avoid ste***ds.

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