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.
What was it like being on a shit load of juice then going to prison and having to stop cold turkey, did you feel like you ever recovered from years of AAS use/abuse?
I haven’t use any heavy amounts of steroids in almost a full year before I was incarcerated, so going cold turkey isn’t something I’ve ever experienced. My last professional competition was the 2005 Ironman in February of that year. The Monday immediately following the event, I was hospitalized at Sun rise Hospital in Las Vegas of an abscess in my right calf. Ironically enough, the abscess was caused from an injection of equipoise of which I can only assume contained bacteria causing the infection to spread rapidly inside the muscle. Now infections caused by black market steroids is nothing new in the bodybuilding community, however it was new to me and definitely put my profession into a entirely different perspective. After spending five weeks in the hospital and barely saving my leg from knee down, that was the last time I’d used a complete cycle of anabolics. I say “complete cycle” because I did use small doses of testosterone and deca durabolin that I knew without a shadow of a doubt were manufactured by a legitimate USA company and given to me directly from “A doctor”… I stayed away from black market steroids and never went on a “complete cycle” again. A “complete cycle” would be a cycle of androgens and ababolics in conjunction with HGH and insulin for a period of time not to exceed 8 – 12 weeks followed by two weeks of HCG and clomid. Small doses of test and deca are by no means considered heavy usage and stopping cold turkey from these insignificant amounts isn’t anything you could physically or mentally notice. It was approx three to four months since I’d even used test or deca before being arrested, so I’ve not experienced any negative affects as a result of using a “shit load of juice”. I am not sure what you mean by recovered from years of AAS use/abuse? Honestly I wasn’t aware of any recovery process a person goes through from using steroids, HGH and other athletic enhancing drugs. All the horror stories you hear about from individuals who abuse narcotics for many years while using steroids and then want to blame the juice for any health issues they may have developed. I personally haven’t used anabolics in seven years and never went through any recovery process that I am aware of. If anything, I honestly miss using the “juice” and the powerful feeling that comes with it while training. Not only have I not experienced and recovery process, but I feel fantastic and don’t have any aches or joint pain to even speak of. I think the only recovery process I’ve had to deal with is going from a well known athlete in the IFBB to being incarcerated in the blink of an eye! Lastly, I would like to point out that using anabolics and HGH in proper dosages is very beneficial, and practiced by athletes in all sports arenas with no negative side effects or abuse recovery processes. Knowledge and education with these substances is necessary and like anything else, as long as you don’t abuse anabolics, there are only benefits.
Robert Kennedy… your thoughts?
Let me just say the bodybuilding & fitness community will without a doubt miss Robert Kennedy. He was a pioneer in the sport and opened the door for so many athletes’ careers. Robert was a good man who always made people comfortable whenever you spoke with him. He was fair with his opinions and always gave credit where credit was due. I’ve had the honor and privilege of gracing several covers of Musclemag International and will never forget Robert Kennedy jumped started my career back in 1991. You were loved by many and you’ll be missed by all… Rest in peace Mr. Kennedy. You were my friend.
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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
