Li, Jiuzhang; Davies, Timothy B.; Hackett, Daniel A.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 37(5):p 1079-1088, May 2023. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004356

PURPOSE:

To examine whether the training and supplementation practices differ between performance-enhancing drug (PED)-using bodybuilders (BB) and natural BB.

PROCEDURES:

187 competitive male bodybuilders (median age 27.0) completed an online survey.

CONCLUSIONS:

- 40 respondents reported using PED (PED-user) and 147 respondents reported to be natural.

- Compared with natural BB, PED-user BB reported greater off-season body weight and weight loss  

   before a competition.

- In the off-season, PED-user BB performed a greater number of exercises per muscle group, number of 

   repetition maximum (RM) per set, and less recovery between the sets.

- During the pre-competition phase, the natural BB increased its number of RM, but the PED-user BB still 

   reported using a greater number of RM per set, exercises per muscle group, and less recovery time 

   between the sets.

- Both the PED-user BB and natural BB reported greater aerobic exercise frequency and session duration, 

   however, PED-user BB performed a greater number of aerobic exercise sessions and at a higher 

   intensity.

- Advanced training techniques - including negatives, partial repetitions, pre-exhaustion sets, and timed 

   repetitions - were more popular among PED-user BB.

- Creatine monohydrate usage was more popular among natural BB, whereas branched-chain and 

   essential amino acids were more popular among PED-user BB.

- In summary, the PED-user BB performed more metabolically demanding resistance training sessions, 

   more strenuous aerobic training during the pre-competition phase, and may have different 

   supplementation preferences compared with natural BB.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH:

Taking PEDS (illegal and immoral because they work!), improves workout capacity, recovery time, and gains sought, especially when adequate protein intake occurs. No shit, Sherlock. But know that hard work, adequate recovery, and proper nutritional intake can yet lead to fantastic natural gains for anyone who commits to it, sans illegal drug use.