by Craig Titus
This column does not represent the opinions or views of IronMagazine, it’s advertisers or affiliates. Craig’s column is unedited and for entertainment purposes only, read at your own risk.
I know every pro bodybuilder takes steroids but what role do recreational drugs play in the sport and culture of bodybuilding?
Recreation drugs and the culture of bodybuilding together like peanut butter and jelly, like Abbott and Costello, like a fag in a dick tree…well you get the picture. There are so many different reasons bodybuilders use recreational drugs other then just to party…and other drugs that aren’t considered recreational. For example, a drug that’s very prevalent in the culture of bodybuilding is Nubain, or Naluphine. Nubain is a mild injectable pain reliever used either IM or IV. I myself used Naluphine from 1994-2002 off and on depending on its availability. This particular drug is a very effective aid while preparing for contest during severe dieting as well as a excellent pain reliever during and fallowing training sessions.
Nubain does several different things…during extreme dieting it makes you less irritable and definitely takes the edge off. Anyone who’s prepared for a bodybuilding contest knows, sixteen weeks of reduced carbohydrates coupled with the training in general, can turn a calm, cool soul into a son of a bitch…nubain aids in maintaining the calm and cool. It’s a excellent sleep aid prefect for a athlete who’s starving when it’s time to rest. Chris Cormier and myself used Naluphine before and during our training sessions. A injection during heavy training days eliminated lower back pain as well as joint pain in general. This drug was in the gym bags of so many bodybuilders…Tom Prince, Matt DuVall, Jason Arntz, Cormier, Mike Matarazzo, Jim Quinn, Paul DeMayo, Mike Christian, Dennis Newman, myself…the list is endless and honestly almost every pro bodybuilder I knew used Nubain at one time or another. Nubain was so prevalent in the bodybuilding and fitness industry its use wasn’t just limited to bodybuilders only So called contest Prep Guru’s used the drug as well…not to mention writers and nutritional company owners and sales reps. The downfall to Nubain use is that it’s highly addictive and extremely hard to stop using. It’s just like any other pain relieve in that it hits your opiate receptors so when you stop injections, the withdrawals are sever and lasts for several days. I stopped using Nubain all together in 2002. Then of course you have your sleep aids such as Zanax, Valum, ambient and several others. These are extremely popular with bodybuilders who believe because Nubain is injectable that taking pills is in someway more acceptable…giving them the illusion of being less of a junky. Which brings me to pain relievers in general…all pain relieves…you name the pill and I can name 10 bodybuilders who used or use them on a daily basis. You think these bodybuilders who’ve received kidney transplants and or have problems with their liver caused from steroid use? Hell no! Those health issues were a direct result of long term drug abuse, in addition to steroid use. And then you have the recreational drugs, the drugs used specifically for partying…in addition to smoking weed. As far as marijuana is concerned, I’m not disclosing any information that isn’t already known. Smoking pot and bodybuilding has been going on since the very beginning Go ahead and watch “Pumpin Iron” and you’ll see it first hand with Arnold Enjoying a joint following his competition. Anyway, bodybuilders work out hard, they put themselves through severe dieting schedules and as a result, they play hard And in some cases, the recreational drug use becomes part of their daily life and contest prep…including alcohol. It’s common Knowledge that Kevin Lavrone smelled like a bottle of whiskey pumping up just before going on stage. At both the 2001 and 2002 Olympia’s, I could smell Kevin’s contest prep oozing out of his pores. Rumor was he used alcohol today out ridding himself of sub Q water. And then you have Chris Cormier and myself. The best ever looked was at the 2001 San Francisco Pro Show Cormier was up all night prior to pre-judging using cocaine and I used it prior to pre-judging the morning of…Chris and I placed 1st and 2nd that day. Not to mention the coke was in addition to a couple injection of Nubain as well. I know some of you are reading this article thinking “oh my God, I can’t believe they did that.” Well believe it, it happens all the time and more often then you could possibly imagine. Crystal Meth for dieting to suppress appetite, cocaine to suppress appetite, and dry skin out for stage, pain relievers to eliminate joint pain, Zanax Valum Ambien to sleep, it’s all being used on a regular basis…for the record, I’ve never used crystal meth for anything. I also want to stay out of fairness to the bodybuilding greats, generally athlete’s placing in the top five in the Olympia or placing in top spots in other shows on a regular basis, probably aren’t using recreational durgs, other then shen it’s time to party…or they keep secrets better than others. And let’s not forget my “Emperor Entertainment” IFBB and NPC After parties!! If there were 10 fitness and bodybuilding celebrities sitting in one section, 9 of them were using ectasy or special K or Alcohol or Coke or watenver So what Role do recreational drugs play in the sport and culture of bodybuilding? Many roles and in some cases-All roles.
Everyone lies about what they take. Obviously, you have no reason to lie at this point. What was a typical cycle like for you, and what did you hear about that even you thought was excessive?
You are absolutely right; I have reason to lie in regard to my steroid cycles. Thing is, I was the athlete who actually held seminars and answered any and all questions in regard to steroid use…and mainly my cycles. With that being said, let me first say, the problem with most bodybuilders cycles isn’t what their using or in what dosages, it’s that a greater percentage of roids being used are fake and nothing more then vegetable oil or a testosterone labled as Deca or Primobolan…That’s a problem!! And then you have these steroid dealers who purchase powders from china and manufacture their own private label steroids out of a bathroom…Bullshit!! Do not use that garbage!! These idiots are not purchasing various anabolic powders from other countries and mixing these powders in private labs…that’s bullshit! What they’re doing is buying a 100cc bottle of Equipoise from Mexico, then taking that EQ and filling 10-10cc Milti-used vials labeling them as testosterone or Deca or Primobolan or whatever and selling it to you for $150.00 a bottle. As a matter of fact, there’s been several arrests of big name bodybuilders selling 100% fake growth hormone steroids. Anyway, providing what you use is 1000% legitimate, which is the most important aspect of steroid use, this is one of my typical cycle and would be for a advanced bodybuilder!
Contest Prep for 16 weeks:
4 weeks-
Sustanon 250mg x 3= 750mg weekly
Dianabol 5mg Tabs 10 Tabs daily
Equipoise 50mg x 6 = 600mg weekly
Winstrol Tabs X 10 Tabs daily
4 weeks-
Test Cypionate 200mg x 3 = 600mg weekly
Primobol Depot. 100mg x 4 = 400mg weekly
Dianabol Tabs 5mg x 10 tabs daily = 450mg weekly
Winstrol Tabs 5mg x 10 tabs daily = 450mg weekly
4 weeks-
Propionate Test 100mg x 4 = 400mg weekly
Haloteston Tabs 10mg x 4 tabs daily = 280mg weekly
Winstrol V Inj. ?mg x ? = 300mg weekly
Deca Durbolin 100mg x 6 = 600 weekly
Cytodrene 250mg Tab- Last Two weeks into show
Nolvadex Tabs daily ?mg – taken the entire cycle duration
Now over the years I’ve spoken to 100’s of bodybuilders discussing cycles and dosages. I consider myself an expert, an absolute expert in the field of anabolic steroid use in that I’ve used almost every steroid made in 100’s of combinations. The most important thing is …use real steroids from actual manufactures. A good rule of thumb in ..if your cycle is killing your appetite then the androgen levels in your system are too high. Simply lower your dosages slightly until appetite comes back. I’ve heard and witnessed some dosages and hormone usage that were in my option, very excessive.
For example…16IUs of HGH daily in my opinion is excessive…I’ve used 9 IUs and 12 IUs daily. The only difference is the increased dosage caused my hands to fall asleep all night long…very irritating. At 9 UIs, I obtained all the benefits of GH without waking up every hour to shake my hands awake. I’ve also known several athletes who were using 2000mg+ of testosterone weekly…that’s ridiculous. That’s entirely too much test only resulting in excess test being converted to estrogen growing a nice set of “bitch tits,” or bringing on a bad case of acne. But by far, the most excessive case or hormone use in bodybuilding is the amount of insulin some bodybuilders are using…20-30-40 units daily fallowing training is crazy-very dangerous!
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Craig Michael Titus was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on Jan 14, 1967. The eldest of Michael and Sandra Titus’ three children. In high school, Craig wrestled for his school team at 132lbs. After graduation, decided to put on some muscle via weight training. When Craig graduated from high school he was 5’6″ and 140lbs. By the age of 21, he was 5’9″ and 185lbs. Once he started weight training and seeing results, he was hooked. Craig’s first bodybuilding show was the 1988 Houston Bodybuilding Championships in which he won the Men’s Open middleweight class and the overall title.
Competitive Record
2002 Mr. Olympia – 11th
2002 Night of Champions XIV – 5th
2002 Southwest Pro – 7th
2001 British Grand Prix – 9th
2001 Mr. Olympia – 12th
2001 Arnold Classic – 6th
2001 SAN FRANCISCO GRAND PRIX – 2nd
2001 IRONMAN PRO INVITATIONAL – 5th
2000 Toronto Pro – 1st
2000 Arnold Classic – 10th
2000 Night of Champions – 11th
2000 Ironman Pro Invitational – 8th
1996 NPC USA Championships — 1st Heavyweight and Overall
1995 NPC USA Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1994 NPC National Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1994 NPC USA Championships — 2nd Heavyweight
1993 NPC USA Championships — 4th Heavyweight
1991 NPC Ironman/Ironmaiden — Overall
1990 NPC Tournament of Champions — 3rd Heavyweight
1990 NPC Western Cup — Overall
1989 NPC Houston Bodybuilding Championships — Overall
1988 NPC Houston Bodybuilding Championships — 1st, Middleweight and Overall
