THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise officers have initiated surprise checks on gymnasiums across the state to capture steroids following the recent death of a bodybuilder at Tripunithura near kochi from steroid abuse. Ampules of steroids were seized from districts like Alappuzha and officials are yet to publicise details. They say steroid consumption is high as ever as big muscle always looks beautiful at bodybuilding competitions.
"While, the competent authority, the drug control department, is not staffed enough to hold massive raids, excise officials have no power to arrest anyone who posses them. Both of them joined hands following the instructions of excise commissioner Rishiraj Singh," said Mohammed Ubaid, an excise officer here. "Gymnasiums in Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram are under the scanner," said another senior official.
Steroids have several side effects such as infertility, cancer and liver diseases. Ironically, the state and district level bodybuilding tournaments do not mandate a drug test due to the cost involved. Even in National level competitions, the builders pass the test by stopping steroids before them.
"In Thrissur, you find a lot of people who will get you toned figure in a short time, most of them in an unhealthy manner. The problem during our raid was that the information spreads like wildfire as bodybuilders are well connected," said a Thrissur-based official. In every district, between 20 and 40 gymnasiums were raided last week.
Purists, modernists spar over protein supplements
Even the hardcore purists in bodybuilding who have been training youth for years are eventually letting youngsters consume protein powders. While modernist trainers list out scientific reason for protein powders being safe, purists who bank on their practical experience want youth to stick to supplements like more pulses and egg white. As the war between two schools of thoughts gets fierce, families of many gym goers confuse supplements for steroids.
“Use of steroids and protein powders are entirely different things. The whey protein powder comes from the watery portion of milk that is separated while making cheese. Steroids are used for treating specific diseases while supplements are something everyone takes for general health,” says Anandh Xavier of Qfit Transformation Studio.
“During busy modern life, a fitness buff cannot be expected to sit and eat healthy while travelling. Yes, no one can’t substitute daily food intake with powders, and that’s why they are called supplements,” said the nutrition expert. Around 5 km away from his fitness studio, purist Haris J. runs his traditional gym, and he would not let his prodigies take supplements barring egg white and pulses.
“The abuse of steroids has gone down with the general prosperity of gym goers who can afford to spend more on food and supplements. However, we also have reservation against using synthetic stuff instead of natural food. The abuse of protein powders come with a threat to kidney among others,” says Mr Haris who has been a judge for many a national bodybuilding championship.
The purist also argues that the proteins without saturated fats are not good for the body. Mr Xavier contradicts him saying the body can excrete the components that are touted to be harmful. “At a tender age sportspersons in Europe are educated about the type of supplementation needed. However, myths are abundant in Kerala about supplements,” he said.
