MLB Baseball Player Steroid Cycles Relatively Safe Compared to Pro Bodybuilders

The use of anabolic steroids by professional baseball players is relatively safe especially when compared to the extreme use of anabolic steroid by professional bodybuilders. The idea that anabolic steroids can be used responsibly and safely is categorically refuted by many anti-steroid crusaders in spite of scientifically evidence to the contrary.

“Think about it: medical science has been using steroids safely in a clinical setting for the last 70 years.” Professor Charles Yesalis, steroid expert and epidemiologist at Penn State University, acknowledges that the media has overstated the dangers of steroids, “Anabolic steroids can be used relatively safely, but at even low doses they can have side effects. No drug, supplement, or substance is totally ‘safe.’ Heck, you can even overdose on water.”

Modern-day steroid hysteria has so demonized and stigmatized anabolic steroids that many people are convinced that all steroid use is inherently irresponsible. The use of anabolic steroids in moderation to achieve performance enhancing results is impossible according to critics who believe the dangerous side effects far outweigh the potential benefits at any level of use. Some critics believe that even a single instance of steroid use can cause permanent and irreversible health consequences that may even include fatal steroid overdoses.

Ironically, society has largely accepted the possibility that far more dangerous drugs can be used relatively safely in moderation. Alcohol and cigarettes are arguably far more dangerous than anabolic steroids yet the concept of responsible use for this substance has largely been accepted. Everyone knows that cirrhosis of the liver in cases of alcoholism and lung cancer from long-term cigarette smoking represent extreme cases of irresponsible and unhealthy drug use.

“You know, if my son came home and said, Dad, I’m either going to start smoking or I’m going to get on steroids,’ I’d have to say I would hope he would choose steroids,” acknowledges Dr. Charles Yesalis.

Few people propose the criminalization and prohibition of alcohol and/or cigarettes based on the side effects experienced by a small minority of individuals who used the substances excessively and/or irresponsibly. Anti-steroid crusaders seek to further criminalize anabolic steroids based on overstated side effects and/or health consequences experienced by extreme and excessive users of steroids.

Anabolic steroids, like many other substances, can be used relatively safely and effectively for its desired purpose. “As used by most people, including athletes, the adverse effects of anabolic steroids appear to be minimal,” according to Dr. Mauro DiPasquale. “They do not cause cancer, they do not cause kidney failure, they do not cause much of anything except an increase in lean muscle mass.”

The concern about steroid use in Major League Baseball is severely overblown given that most baseball players only used moderate dosages of steroids in short cycles. Yet anti-steroid crusaders inevitably point to the extreme steroid use by some amateur and professional bodybuilders to support their assertions of the deadly and dangerous side effects. Steroid use does not occur uniformly among all groups, much like alcohol use, and extreme users should not be the basis for criminalizing steroid use for all.

Chris Street, the former science editor of FLEX Magazine, has written about steroid use by athletes in various sports in his unpublished manuscript entitled “The Steroid Interviews.” T-Nation has published excerpts from the book that include the anabolic steroid cycles of a MLB baseball player and an IFBB professional bodybuilder. This sample steroid stacks providing a comparison of anabolic steroid use at the extremes of the performance-enhancing continuum.

Steroid cycle for MLB player prior to 2000 MLB season:

Week(s) 1-3

• 20 mg/d Winstrol tablets
• 200 mg/wk testosterone cypionate (generic)
• 20 mg/d Nolvadex
• 1 mg/d Arimidex

Week(s) 4-7

• 25 mg/d Anadrol
• 300 mg/wk testosterone cypionate (generic)
• 20 mg/d Nolvadex
• 1 mg/d Arimidex
• 4 IU/d rHGH
• 500 mg metformin taken with meals

Week(s) 8-9

• 10 mg/d Oxandrin
• 20 mg/d Nolvadex
• 1 mg/d Arimidex
• 2500 IU HCG every other day

Week(s) 10-11

• 20 mg/d Nolvadex

Week(s) 12-14

• No drugs used

Total androgen dose for 9 week cycle: 2,565mg*

Steroid cycle for IFBB pro bodybuilder prior to 2005 Mr. Olympia:

Week 14

• 400 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
• 200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 25 mg/day methandrostenolone
• Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 13

• 400 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
• 200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 25 mg/day methandrostenolone
• 0.70 mg/day tiratricol
• 3 IU growth hormone M, W, F
• Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 12

• 300 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
• 300 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 25 mg/day methandrostenolone
• 0.70 mg/day tiratricol
• 3 IU growth hormone M, W, F
• Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 11

• 300 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
• 300 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 25 mg/day methandrostenolone
• 0.70 mg/day tiratricol
• 3 IU growth hormone administered M, W, F
• Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 10

• 200 mg/wk Testosterone [specific ester name not given]
• 400 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 25 mg/day methandrostenolone
• 0.70 mg/day tiratricol
• 3 IU growth hormone administered M, W, F
• Total weekly androgen dose: 775 mg

Week 9

• 152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
• 200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
• 200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• 3 IU growth hormone, change to daily injections here until Mr. Olympia
• Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 8

• 152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
• 200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 3 IU/day growth hormone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 7

• 152 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
• 200 mg/wk nandrolone decanoate
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 200 mg/wk methenolone enanthate
• 4 IU/day growth hormone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Begin alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol and 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• Total weekly androgen dose: 752 mg

Week 6

• 100 mg Testosterone suspension administered twice per week
• 100 mg injectable stanzozolol administered three times per week
• 228 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 5 IU/day growth hormone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• Local injections with formyldienolone begin here until Mr. Olympia (upper chest, biceps, and side delts)
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,103 mg*

Week 5

• 50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice per week
• 100 mg Testosterone suspension administered twice per week
• 100 mg injectable stanzozolol administered three times per week
• 228 mg/wk trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 5 IU/day growth hormone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,203 mg*

Week 4

• 100 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered three times per week
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 100 mg Testosterone suspension administered three times per week
• 100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• 5 IU/day growth hormone
• Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
• 500 mg/day testolactone
• 500 mg/day tolbutamide
• 100 mg/day mesterolone
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week 3

• 100 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered three times per week
• 200 mg/wk dromostanolone
• 100 mg Testosterone suspension administered three times per week
• 100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol and 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• 5 IU/day growth hormone
• Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
• 500 mg/day testolactone
• 500 mg/day tolbutamide
• 100 mg/day mesterolone
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week 2

• 50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice per week
• 100 mg/day mesterolone
• 1.05 mg/day tiratricol
• 100 mg injectable stanozolol administered three times per week
• 100 mg/day Testosterone suspension
• 600 mg/day testolactone
• 500 mg/day tolbutamide
• 750 mg/day aminoglutethimide
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• 5 IU/day growth hormone (GH stops this week)
• Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,975 mg*

Week Preceding the Mr. Olympia

• 50 mg nandrolone phenpropionate administered twice this week
• 100 mg/day mesterolone
• 100 mg injectable stanozolol Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• 100 mg Testosterone suspension Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday
• 600 mg/day testolactone
• 500 mg/day tolbutamide
• 25 mg/day oxandrolone
• Alternating daily dose of 30 mcg clenbuterol or 100 mg ephedrine (i.e. one day C, next day E)
• 750 mg/day aminoglutethimide
• Local injections with formyldienolone (upper chest, biceps, side delts)
• Total weekly androgen dose: 1,575 mg*

Total androgen dose for 14 week cycle: 15,937 mg*

*Androgen totals do not include site injections of formyldienolone or oral administration of testolactone.

Clearly, an MLB player’s use of 2,565mg of total androgens in a nine week steroid cycle will not have as many side effects as an IFBB pro bodybuilder’s use of 15, 937mg of total androgens plus various ancillary drugs in a 14-week steroid cycle. The side effects of steroids have even been overstated even at the extreme “pro bodybuilder” level of steroid use.

The representative MLB player’s steroid cycle appears even safer when compared to the 6,000mg of total androgens over 10 weeks used by participants in the landmark testosterone study “The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men“. The study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported the virtual absence of any physiological or behavioral side effects resulting from a 6,000mg total androgen steroid cycle. A 2,565mg total steroid cycle used by a MLB player should be even safer.

About the author

Millard

MESO-Rx | Website

Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.