TRT TreyCurious…
Is Lance Armstrong on steroids?
Then you’ve come to the right place. Inside, you’ll find the official Testosterone.org breakdown of whether Lance Armstrong has ever used gear before…
Lance Armstrong is one of the most greatest long-distance cyclists of all time. He is famous for winning 7 consecutive Tour de France titles, from 1999 to 2005, along with numerous other road cycling titles.
Unfortunately, Lance Armstrong was stripped of most of his professional titles, including his Tour de France titles, after he admitted to using performance enhancing drugs.
But is that really what happened? Did Lance Armstrong earn his Tour de France victories “fair and square” as a natural athlete? Or did he cheat by using anabolic steroids and other banned substances? Let’s find out!
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Lance Armstrong Stats
| Age: | 50 Years Old |
| Height: | 5'10" |
| Weight: | 165 lbs |
| Estimated Body Fat %: | About 10 Percent |
| Nickname: | "Le Boss" |
What Are Steroids?
Anabolic steroids, or AAS, are man-made chemicals that mimic the effects of testosterone and other muscle-building hormones in the human body.
Anabolic steroids work by boosting protein intake in muscle cells, particularly in skeletal muscles. They also have an important virilizing effect. In other words, they develop various male secondary sexual characteristics, like facial hair and muscle gain.
Anabolic steroids were first synthesized in 1935 in Germany. Initially, steroids were used to treat depression. However, they were soon used for non-medical purposes.
AAS were first used by professional athletes in 1954 when Soviet weightlifters were given testosterone [1]. By the early 1980s, anabolic steroids were mainstream and easily accessible to the general population. Many amateur bodybuilders started using steroids during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Anabolic steroids are clearly very effective at boosting athletic performance. Unfortunately, they are known to cause many negative side effects, including high blood pressure, liver damage, structural changes of the heart, dislipidemia, acne, and even and hair loss [1].
Other negative side effects may include erectile dysfunction, shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, breast development, increased risk of prostate cancer, and stomach pain. These side effects are only visible after long-term, excessive use of AAS.
Because of these negative side effects, anabolic steroids are illegal in most developed countries. For example, it is illegal to purchase or use steroids in the United States or Canada.
On the other hand, anabolic steroids are widely available without prescription in some countries, like Thailand or Mexico [2].
Signs of Steroid Use
Is it possible to say if someone is on steroids, without actually asking them? Some steroid users don’t have any obvious signs that they are on gear. However, most steroid users have some obvious signs or symptoms that you can look for.
Here are 5 of the most common signs of steroid use [3, 4]:
- Super Large Skull
- Bloated Physique
- Overpowered Traps
- Skinny Legs
- Red / Flushed Skin
Let’s take a closer look at each of these signs.
One of the most obvious signs of steroid use is a super large skull. Some steroids like growth hormone will actually make the skull expand in size. This could be why some celebrities like Dwayne Johnson and Joe Rogan have an especially large head.
Another common sign of steroid use is overpowering traps and shoulders. These muscle groups have a large number of androgen receptors, so when someone performs their first steroid cycle, they often explode up in size.
Other signs of steroid use include a bloated physique, underdeveloped legs, and red / flushed skin.
There are many other signs of long-term steroid use, but these are some of the big ones. If someone has most or all of these signs, then the odds are very high that they are using performance enhancing drugs.
Is Lance Armstrong On Steroids?
Is Lance Armstrong really a natural athlete? Or did he use anabolic steroids to get an unfair advantage over his competition? Let’s look at the facts before jumping to any conclusions.
The truth is, Lance Armstrong doesn’t have any of the obvious signs of long-term steroid use. For example, he doesn’t have an insanely muscular physique, a distended stomach, or massive shoulders. He has a lean, athletic physique, and looks almost exactly like other long-distance cyclists. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Lance is “natural.”
Many journalists and cyclists have accused Lance Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs [5]. Some steroids such as testosterone are known to improve your cardiovascular endurance, so it makes sense that Lance would be tempted to use them. But is there any truth to these claims?
First of all, Lance Armstrong was famous for working with Michel Ferrari, a trainer famous for promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs. Other cyclists, such as Greg LeMond, were devastated after hearing that Lance Armstrong was associated with Michel Ferrari.
The magazine Cycling News claims that Michele Ferrari was the mastermind behind Armstrong’s success at Tour de France, administering him potent performance-enhancing drugs.
According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Armstrong paid Ferrari more than $1 million from 1996 to 2006 during the peak of his career, and he communicated with Lance Armstrong extensively via email during this period [6].
There are also many eyewitness accounts of Ferrari injecting Armstrong with various unknown substances.
The final blow to Armstrong’s case was the USADA investigation, which started in June 2012. The investigation was based on multiple blood samples collected in 2009 and 2010, testimonies from former teammates, physicians, and other important team officials. Armstrong was also accused of putting pressure on other athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
Lance Armstrong decided not to appeal the investigation, considering that the stress on his family would be too strenuous [7]. As a result, he was stripped of all his Tour de France titles, but also other titles won from 1998 to the end of his career.
Lance Armstrong also received a lifetime ban from all sports. All national and international sporting federations followed this decision, ending his career in sports. His stripped wins will not be allocated to other athletes.
Armstrong finally confessed to doping in a January 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey [8]. However, he denied that he pressured other athletes into doping.
Lance Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs during his professional cycling career, was found guilty in a criminal investigation, and even admitted to using steroids in his 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey. He was stripped of all of his Tour de France victories, lost all of his sponsors, and lost tens of millions of dollars in criminal lawsuits. What can we say? We’re disappointed, Lance Armstrong.
Lance Armstrong Before And After Steroids
Lance Armstrong doesn’t have any of the obvious signs of long-term steroid use. He has a lean, athletic look, but he doesn’t have an insanely muscular physique, massive shoulders / traps, or any of the other obvious signs of long-term steroid use. Lance Armstrong looks like a regular cyclist who is at the top of his game.
However, that doesn’t mean that Lance Armstrong is off the hook….
Anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are known to improve the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood. This is obviously a huge benefit for anyone competing in long-distance endurance sports, such as competitive cycling.
Lance Armstrong probably used steroids to improve his cardiovascular endurance, rather than to pack on pounds of lean muscle mass. Lance was caught, and ultimately paid the price for trying to get an unfair advantage over his competition.
Legal Steroid Alternatives?
Anabolic steroids do work, but they are definitely not for everyone. Steroids are still illegal in most developed countries and using them without a prescription or under strict medical supervision can be very extremely dangerous. They have multiple negative side effects and can cause serious medical conditions.
There are many natural supplements, or “legal steroid alternatives” that promise similar results to steroids, minus the negative side effects. These supplements are often used by athletes to raise their testosterone levels, build muscle mass or increase their strength and agility.
Creatine used to be one of the most popular muscle-building supplements but today there are many other options.
One of the most popular legal steroid alternatives is called ecdysterone.
This natural substance has been shown in research studies to boost muscle mass and strength faster than other sports supplements like creatine.
In fact, some studies show that ecdysterone is just as effective as many traditional anabolic steroids, such as dianabol [9].
Best of all, ecdysterone has no long-term side effects in humans. As long as you take the recommended dose of 500 mg per day, then you have nothing to worry about.
If you are looking for a great place to purchase ecdysterone then we recommend Huge Supplements. Ecdysterone is a great choice if you want to build muscle mass and strength faster without any negative side effects.
Testosterone Therapy vs. Steroids
Have you ever wondered why younger men have so much energy? One of the biggest reasons is they have higher testosterone levels.
If you want to optimize your hormone levels and regain some of your youthful energy, then you may want to look into testosterone replacement therapy.
Testosterone replacement therapy is completely different from something like anabolic steroids. The basic goal is to raise your total testosterone to the levels of a healthy 20 year old.
Research shows that testosterone therapy is extremely safe, and has many health benefits, including improved confidence and mood, enhanced energy levels, and a more muscular physique [10, 11, 12].
If you are looking for a great online TRT provider, then look no further than Fountain TRT. They are one of the most trusted names in men’s health, and specialize in helping men just like you receive the prescription testosterone medication that they need.
Lance Armstrong And Steroids | Verdict
What’s the verdict – is Lance Armstrong on steroids?
We think there is an overwhelming amount of evidence proving that Lance Armstrong used steroids during his cycling career.
Steroids have been shown to improve your cardiovascular endurance and this may have been the extra “edge” that Lance needed to win his 7 Tour De France victories.
Lance Armstrong also admitted to using steroids in court and on the Oprah Winfrey show. He also failed multiple drug tests, worked with coaches who were known for promoting steroids and even had several teammates confirm that he was doping.
Lance is clearly an incredible athlete and trained hard to compete at the highest level in his sport. However, there is a mountain of evidence showing Lance Armstrong probably cheated by using steroids to get an extra edge over his competitors.