Former 1983 Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout is taking aim at rampant insulin and growth hormone abuse in bodybuilding. In a recent Rumble video, Bannout claimed the sport is being killed by excessive and unnecessary drug use.
“It’s sad to see these kids getting kidney transplants and heart problems and dying so soon,” Samir Bannout shared.
Over the course of decades, the IFBB Pro League, along with Bannout, has seen changes to the marquee Men’s Open division. After Dorian Yates’ six-year reign, Ronnie Coleman took over and elevated the category with a stunning level of detail and size. With these factors playing a crucial role in the sport today, many competitors feel the need to use performance-enhancing drugs to keep up with their contemporaries.
In the past, Samir Bannout has been highly critical of insulin use, despite many athletes taking the compound during contest preps. Having seen competitors use higher quantities of drugs, Bannout, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, is concerned the sport is headed down a dangerous path.
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Bannout also took aim at ‘gurus’ in the sport because he wants to see athletes favor healthier practices just like in his era. Making a name for himself in the 1970s-1980s, Bannout managed to sculpt an Olympia-caliber physique without the use of insulin or growth hormone.
“You Will Not Get Onion Skin w/ Insulin” Samir Bannout Takes Aim At Dangerous Coaching & Drugs
According to Samir Bannout, no one needs to take 1,000 milligrams of testosterone or insulin. He added that anyone taking 10-12 IUs of growth hormone is ‘not mentally together.’
“We can talk openly about it. You know what, let people understand that even Godzilla don’t need 1,000 milligrams of testosterone. Even Godzilla don’t need that much. Nobody should be using Anadrol in this volume, okay? The 10 IUs-12 IUs of GH is really – these people are mentally not together. Why do you need that much?
What’s the price they are paying later on? I mean look at the life expectancy back then, we were like 75-85, now these guys are dropping at 45-50 and they don’t look good! What, they want to be the biggest fucking guy in the graveyard? Let them do it. I don’t approve of that message bro,” said Samir Bannout.
“They don’t want to listen, they don’t want to understand. Like, ‘I need to take 2,000 milligrams to look good.’ You don’t need to do that much. My, for God’s sake, even Godzilla can do good on 500 milligrams of test. Honest to God,” shared Samir Bannout.
Bannout suggested that coaches are ripping athletes off for money and encouraging them to take harmful drugs.
“That’s why we go back and take about Zane, Arnold, and Oliva, those guys were the greatest – Dave Draper, nobody did this insane protocol that’s been talked about on a regular basis. Those coaches was making $10,000 for contest prep for 3-6 months and really, to poison people. Come on guys. Wake up, use your head.”
“Don’t get fooled by who is a famous coach, that doesn’t mean you’re in the right place, you hear me? There are pretty safe coaches out there but they are some dangerous coaches and it’s up to you to use your head.”
Comparing different eras, Bannout favors the Classical Bodybuilding look, reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. As for insulin and growth hormones, he believes these drugs are killing the sport.
“We’re talking about Samson, okay, massive? Yes. Is he ready like that [onion skin]? No. Do I think he’s incredible not I think he’s unbelievable… but minus 40 pounds he’d be so much better,” added Bannout. ”
“I’m in favor of that Classical look, seriously, you know… if you really look and check [who] has the health problems, the people passing away are mostly the big boys. I think their introduction to insulin and a high amount of GH is all the things that are killing the sport. To me, it’s very hard to have a huge 245-250 body with that clarity.”
“You could actually put Arnold in the Classic right now because Arnold was never 240 on the stage, he always competed at 220.”
Before wrapping up his thoughts, Bannout stressed the dangers of insulin use even when a credentialed trainer like Milos Sarcev recommends it:
“You guys have to drop the insulin. You have to drop that insulin. You will not get that onion skin with insulin. I’m sorry, you can’t. If Milos insists on that, you know, he wants to talk about it and have a discussion regarding it.
I’m like, ‘Milos, insulin has no place in bodybuilding, it’s not necessary.’ Does it really make you bigger, does it load you up? Yeah, but does it give you that quality we’re talking about Nick? It doesn’t. It does not. And that’s my honest opinion.”
Samir Bannout isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran who has taken issue with the overuse of drugs. Recently, 1990s standout Rich Gaspari tackled the topic. Similar to Bannout’s message, Gaspari said competitors have begun to favor drug use over hardcore training and strict dieting.
Considering the number of deaths in bodybuilding over the last five years, Bannout hopes to see changes, especially in the bigger divisions like the Men’s Open. Regardless of the category, Bannout believes insulin has no place in the sport.
READ MORE:
- Is Classic Physique Taking Over Men’s Open Bodybuilding?
- Samir Bannout Rips Critics of TRT Use: ‘You’re Stupid, Dumb If You Don’t Do it’
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Open Bodybuilding Is ‘Dangerous,’ Classic Physique Is the Future
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