Men’s Open mass monster Vlad Sukhoruchko is clearing the air after rumors spread about his physique online. In an Instagram Stories post from July 2, he denied synthol accusations and revealed that his shoulders are wide and round thanks to his genetics.
Over the last few years, Sukhoruchko has made his mark in the IFBB Pro League. His vascular conditioning, along with his freaky arms and legs, has helped him stand out in the Men’s Open division. In 2024, he strung together an impressive season, having laid claim to a runner-up finish at the Chicago Pro. At the event, he gave Men’s Open star Mohamed Foda a run for his money.
Sukhoruchko faced an even deeper lineup at the 2024 Tampa Pro. Ultimately, he secured fourth place, but had the opportunity to test himself against high-profile contenders, including Jordan Hutchinson, Foda, and champ, Jon Delarosa.
After taking a rest from competing, Sukhoruchko was back in action at the recent 2026 FLEX Weekend Italy Pro. In the end, he settled for a 10th-place finish, yet rumors about his synthol use continue to run their course on social media.
Bodybuilder Vlad Sukhoruchko Responds to Shoulder Synthol Accusations on Social Media
In the Instagram Stories post, Sukhoruchko stressed that his wide, round shoulders are a product of genetics, not site enhancement oils.
“My entire career, I’ve heard the same thing every year about my shoulders: that it’s synthol or oil. It’s just my GENETIC. Even when I was competing as a junior, I always had wide, round shoulders, and of course, with time, most dominant muscle groups will progress even more.”
He also mentioned that his shoulders are a stronger body part, so it wouldn’t make sense to use synthol on them:
“And second thing, why would I do synthol in my shoulders if it’s already big? The bigger my shoulders are, the smaller my chest and arms seem. Where is the logic?” shared Vlad Sukhoruchko via Instagram stories.
Vlad Sukhoruchko isn’t the only big name in the Men’s Open to face synthol allegations. Shortly after Tonio Burton won the 2026 New York Pro, fans noticed his shoulders lacked striations and accused him of using site enhancements. Even the reigning two-time Mr. Olympia, Derek Lunsford, has faced similar controversies.
According to Sukhoruchko, bigger shoulders would just make his chest and arms look small. His mission to qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia continues, as he finalizes preparations for this weekend’s Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, set for July 5, in Estoril, Portugal.
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