Steroids

[Lerho]

How much do you think steroids improve performance in powerlifting? Im amazed progression that my training partner has made. We have trained about three years now, he is having a normal family life, he will be 41 this year and he is eating "basic home food", but his progression in this three year period has been absolutely fantastic, I think. His father was a world class powerlifter so the genes must play a part but I just wonder that if he were 20-something with no family "restrictions" and would train more than that three times a week that we do and have a pro to make his training program (and not me ), he would get some huge numbers for sure.

So is he just exceptional talent or would his progression be much better still if he would use steroids (even at his age)?

[Shadowschmadow]

What kind of progression are we talking here?

[Off Road]

I'm not going to make the judgement call on using steroids, but if he was smart he wouldn't even consider them until his natural progression has stopped or slowed waaay down.

[BendtheBar]

Just presenting some numbers on the deadlift that can hopefully aid the discussion.

The second set are raw deadlifts records from the USAPL, a tested federation in the states. The first set are from various other federations that may or may not test (or claim to test - I don't know off hand).

All time American Raw Records

123 633 Lamar Gant 1980 AAU*
132 628 Lamar Gant 1981 USPF
148 690 Dan Austin 1987 IPF
165 714 Rick Gaugler 1981 USPF
181 791 Ed Coan 1984 USPF
198 859 Ed Coan 1985 USPF
220 901 Ed Coan 1991 USPF
242 887 Ed Coan 1998 USPF
275 856 John Kuc 1985 ADFPA
308 825 Don Cundy 1970 AAU*
SHW 903 Mark Henry 1995 ADFPA

Current USAPL RAW Records

123 551 Eric Kupperstein
132 578.50 Eric Kupperstein
148 523.50 Jeff Phillips
165 622.75 Jamie McDougal
181 672.25 Alex Tertitski
198 705.25 Craig Terry
220 716.25 Mathew Nolan
242 699.75 Dale Sledge
275 832 Michael Tuchscherer
275+ 799 Ettore Ewen

[Lerho]

Originally Posted by Shadow

What kind of progression are we talking here?

We started early 2009, his progression:
Bench press 90kg without pause, now 175kg with pause
Squat 100kg to parallel, now 210kg well below parallel using just belt
Deadlift 120kg, now 275kg with just a belt

Not bad for a man born in 1970?

His father deadlifted 380kg in early nineties.

[Lerho]

Originally Posted by Off Road

I'm not going to make the judgement call on using steroids, but if he was smart he wouldn't even consider them until his natural progression has stopped or slowed waaay down.

He won't consider them, ever. Im just curious because I think his progression is exceptional. Im younger than him and Im falling more and more behind even though I think Im making a good progress...

[Lerho]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Just presenting some numbers on the deadlift that can hopefully aid the discussion.

The second set are raw deadlifts records from the USAPL, a tested federation in the states. The first set are from various other federations that may or may not test (or claim to test - I don't know off hand).

All time American Raw Records

123 633 Lamar Gant 1980 AAU*
132 628 Lamar Gant 1981 USPF
148 690 Dan Austin 1987 IPF
165 714 Rick Gaugler 1981 USPF
181 791 Ed Coan 1984 USPF
198 859 Ed Coan 1985 USPF
220 901 Ed Coan 1991 USPF
242 887 Ed Coan 1998 USPF
275 856 John Kuc 1985 ADFPA
308 825 Don Cundy 1970 AAU*
SHW 903 Mark Henry 1995 ADFPA

Current USAPL RAW Records

123 551 Eric Kupperstein
132 578.50 Eric Kupperstein
148 523.50 Jeff Phillips
165 622.75 Jamie McDougal
181 672.25 Alex Tertitski
198 705.25 Craig Terry
220 716.25 Mathew Nolan
242 699.75 Dale Sledge
275 832 Michael Tuchscherer
275+ 799 Ettore Ewen

Thank you. Damn its difficult with pounds...

He weights now about 93-95kg...

[Shadowschmadow]

It is pretty exceptional, but I suppose its not out of the realm of possibility. People who train/eat properly on roidz can accomplish some outlandish things.

[Lerho]

Originally Posted by Shadow

It is pretty exceptional, but I suppose its not out of the realm of possibility. People who train/eat properly on roidz can accomplish some outlandish things.

Yes, but he doesnt use steroids. I wonder what his numbers would be, should he use them...

[Lerho]

More comments? I thought this would create some discussion... I would like my numbers go up like his...