Do Strongman Use Steroids? The Truth About PED Use in Strongman

When you watch a human being deadlift 500 kilograms or pull a literal airplane down a tarmac, it’s hard not to ask the question. The sheer mass, the impossible density, and the superhuman feats displayed in competitions like World’s Strongest Man (WSM) often seem to defy the laws of biology.

Is it just genetics and porridge? Or is there something else fueling the engine?

The topic of Strongman steroid use is often the elephant in the room—or rather, the mammoth in the gym. While fans marvel at the spectacle, there is a persistent curiosity about what goes on behind the curtain. The reality is complex, defined by a stark divide between natural Strongman federations and the elite professional circuits where Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) are often considered an open secret.

This article peels back the layers of the industry, looking at the physiology, the economics, and the raw truth of anabolic steroid use in Strongman.

5 Key Takeaways

• The “Open Secret”: While widely prohibited on paper, the consensus among insiders is that elite professional Strongman is an environment where chemical enhancement is a prerequisite for competitiveness.
• Recovery is Key: Athletes don’t just use steroids for bigger muscles; the primary driver is often the need to recover from the extreme physical trauma of training with massive loads.
• The Health Cost: The pursuit of being the strongest comes with severe risks, including cardiac hypertrophy (enlarged heart), liver toxicity, and endocrine disruption.
• Tested vs. Untested: There is a clear split in the sport. “Natural” federations like the UKNS enforce strict testing, while major pro shows generally lack WADA-standard enforcement.
• Admission of Use: Legends of the sport, including Hafthor Bjornsson (“The Mountain”) and Bill Kazmaier, have admitted to using steroids to reach the pinnacle of their careers.

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Natural vs. Enhanced: Understanding Tested and Untested Federations

To understand the landscape of Strongman steroid use, you have to realize that it isn’t one single governing body. Unlike the Olympics, which falls under the strict (though arguably imperfect) umbrella of WADA, Strongman is a collection of various federations and promoters.

This creates a dichotomy in the sport: the “Tested” (Natural) and the “Untested” (Enhanced).

To help visualize this, imagine the difference between Formula 1 racing and an “unlimited” class drag race. In a natural Strongman federation, everyone must use a standard, factory-issue engine. The winner is determined by driver skill, natural engineering, and how well they can tune that stock engine within strict limits.

In the open professional Strongman circuit, it is more like an unlimited class race. The driver’s skill and work ethic are still paramount—you cannot win without being a spectacular athlete—but the engines are modified with nitrous oxide and turbochargers (steroids) to push speeds (strength) far beyond what a factory engine could ever achieve without exploding.

Federations like the UK Natural Strongman (UKNS) exist to provide a playground for the “factory engines.” They require athletes to purchase licenses that fund stringent drug testing to ensure a fair playing field. Conversely, the giants you see on TV at the Arnold Strongman Classic or WSM are operating in that “unlimited” sphere, where the limits of human physiology are being chemically extended.

World’s Strongest Man Steroid Testing: Official Policy vs. Reality

If you visit the World’s Strongest Man website, you will find a “Wellness Policy.” It states that the use of performance-enhancing drugs is “strictly forbidden” and that competitors are subject to blood screenings and urine tests. On paper, it looks clean.

However, the reality described by athletes and community insiders paints a different picture.

The enforcement at major events is frequently criticized for lacking the rigor of Olympic standards. Many observers argue that Strongman drug testing protocols may focus more on recreational drugs—like cocaine or marijuana, which could be liabilities for sponsors—rather than testosterone or other anabolic agents. Some sources even suggest that major events avoid strict doping tests to prevent disqualifying the very top talent that draws the crowds.

This creates a paradox where the rules say “no,” but the culture says “yes.”

This isn’t just speculation. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, known to the world as “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones and a WSM champion, admitted in an ESPN interview to using steroids. When asked, he acknowledged it, stating, “When you want to be the best, you do whatever it takes.” Similarly, legends from the golden era like Bill Kazmaier have discussed past use, solidifying the idea that this has been part of the sport’s DNA for decades.

Why Athletes Use Anabolic Steroids: Recovery, Strength, and Economics

Why do they do it? The obvious answer is “to get stronger,” but that simplifies the physiological reality of the sport.

The Recovery Trap

The most critical role of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) in Strongman is recovery. The training volume required to deadlift 1,000 lbs is traumatic to the body. It tears muscle fibers, strains tendons, and taxes the central nervous system to a breaking point.

A natural athlete might need 48 to 72 hours to recover fully from a heavy session. An enhanced athlete, thanks to increased protein synthesis and nitrogen retention provided by AAS, might recover in 24 hours. Over a year, the enhanced athlete can train harder and more frequently, compounding their gains. As Eddie Hall has noted, at the elite level, athletes spend massive amounts of money not just on food, but on physio, hyperbaric chambers, and recovery modalities to gain any competitive edge.

The Economic Prisoner’s Dilemma

There is also a game theory aspect to this. It’s a classic “Prisoner’s Dilemma.” If Athlete A stays natural and Athlete B uses PEDs, Athlete B likely wins the sponsorship deals, the prize money, and the fame. To remain economically viable in a sport where only the top few make a good living, athletes feel a massive pressure to dope just to reach the baseline required to compete.

Common Strongman Substances: What PEDs Do Pros Take?

While specific “cycles” are closely guarded secrets, the pharmacology of Strongman is generally understood by experts in the field. The toolkit usually includes:

• Testosterone: The base of almost all cycles. It increases muscle mass, strength, and aggression.
• Trenbolone: A potent androgen that increases strength and muscle density rapidly but comes with harsh side effects.
• Nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin): Often used for its joint-lubricating properties, allowing athletes to lift heavy weights with less joint pain.
• Growth Hormone (HGH) & Insulin: Used together, these can induce hyperplasia (creation of new muscle cells) and massive glycogen retention, contributing to the “bloated” or massive look of modern giants.
• Stimulants: Used immediately pre-competition to ramp up nervous system output for a max lift.

It is not as simple as taking a pill and waking up strong. These substances are paired with thousands of calories a day and brutal training regimens. The drugs allow the work to happen; they don’t replace it.

Health Risks of Strongman Steroid Use: Heart and Organ Damage

The human body was not designed to weigh 400 pounds, regardless of whether that weight is muscle or fat. When you add exogenous hormones to the mix, the health risks of steroids skyrocket.

Research, including the “Haarlem Study” on AAS users, indicates that one of the most significant risks is cardiac hypertrophy—specifically, the enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle. The heart is a muscle, and anabolic steroids (combined with the strain of lifting heavy weights) cause it to grow. This can impair diastolic function (the heart’s ability to relax and fill with blood).

Beyond the heart, the risks are systemic:

• Liver Toxicity: Oral steroids are processed by the liver and can cause severe stress or failure over time.
• Lipid Profiles: Steroid use often crushes “good” cholesterol (HDL) and raises “bad” cholesterol (LDL), creating a recipe for arterial plaque and heart attacks.
• Endocrine Disruption: When an athlete pumps synthetic testosterone into their body, their natural production shuts down. This can lead to testicular atrophy and long-term hypogonadism (low T) after they stop using.

Psychological Side Effects: Roid Rage and Mental Health

The impact isn’t just physical. The stereotype of “Roid Rage” is well-known, but the reality is more nuanced.

While research indicates that some users experience increased irritability, agitation, and mood swings, it affects everyone differently. For a Strongman, aggression can be a tool. Controlled aggression is necessary to approach a 400kg bar and move it.

However, there is also a mental health component related to the lifestyle. Eddie Hall has spoken openly about the psychological drivers behind his career. He described his extreme training and physical pursuits as a way to fill a mental “void” and manage anxiety or ADHD. For some, the drugs and the training are a form of self-medication, a way to quiet a noisy mind through extreme physical exertion.

Future of Strongman: Can the Sport Ever Be Completely Drug-Free?

Can Strongman ever be fully clean? The “Endgame effect” suggests it might be difficult.

Strongman is a spectacle sport. Fans tune in to see humans do things that seem impossible. If the sport were to go fully natural tomorrow, the records would stop falling. The 501kg deadlift would likely not be broken for decades, if ever. The weights would decrease, and the athletes would shrink.

Would the fans still watch? Perhaps. But as long as the demand exists for “freakish” strength and records that defy logic, the incentive for athletes to push the boundaries of chemistry will remain.

For now, the sport exists in a delicate balance: a world where natural Strongman federations grow to support the purists, while the professional open circuit continues to push the absolute limits of human—and scientific—potential.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do Strongman competitions test for steroids? It depends entirely on the federation. Natural Strongman competitions (like the UKNS) conduct strict drug testing for all participants. Major professional events like World’s Strongest Man officially claim to conduct urine tests and forbid PEDs. However, critics and athletes alike suggest these protocols are often less stringent than Olympic (WADA) standards, sometimes focusing more on recreational drugs than performance enhancers.

2. What substances do Strongmen typically use? While athletes rarely publish their cycles, the most common substances are Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS), which are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. Common choices include injectable testosterone, trenbolone, and nandrolone. At the elite level, athletes may also utilize human growth hormone (HGH) and insulin to maximize mass gain and recovery.

3. Why do Strongmen use steroids if they are dangerous? The primary drivers are enhanced strength, muscle growth, and—crucially—recovery. The volume of training required to be a pro Strongman causes immense physical trauma. Steroids allow athletes to recover faster and train harder. Economically, the pressure to win creates a “prisoner’s dilemma” where athletes feel they must dope to keep up with their rivals.

4. Are there “natural” Strongman competitions? Yes. There is a growing movement for natural athletics. Federations like the UKNS (UK Natural Strongman) and various national organizations in the US and Europe cater specifically to drug-free athletes. These federations enforce strict testing to ensure a fair playing field.

5. What are the side effects of using steroids for Strongman? The side effects can be severe. They include cardiac issues like left ventricular hypertrophy (enlarged heart) and high blood pressure. Other risks include liver toxicity, testicular atrophy, severe acne, and drastic changes in cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease.

6. Do Strongmen suffer from “Roid Rage”? It varies by individual. While AAS can increase aggression and irritability, not every user experiences violent “roid rage.” Many athletes, like Eddie Hall, describe their “beast” personas as a character for the competition, while they remain calm in their personal lives. Aggression is often treated as a performance tool to be managed.

7. Is it possible to be a professional Strongman without steroids? If “professional” means competing at the World’s Strongest Man finals, the consensus is generally no. The physiological limits of a natural human body are simply lower than those of a chemically enhanced one. However, you can certainly be a professional natural Strongman, winning titles and earning respect within natural federations.