ANABOLICS IX: An Interview With Author William Llewellyn

ANABOLICS IX: An Interview With Author William Llewellyn

During the 1980s, tattered, photocopied pages of a secret volume of lore passed among weightlifters in gyms and weight rooms across the U.S. This text, the Underground Steroid Handbook, was considered the authoritative text regarding illicit anabolic steroid use, guiding novice and advanced bodybuilders in drug selection and injection technique, as well as informing users of some of the potential side effects. Often crude, the text combined humor and information in a way that was readily accepted by its intended audience. So influential was the text, that it has been referenced in medical reports and congressional hearings. It clandestine author was later revealed to be the late Dan Duchaine. Since the time of the Underground Steroid Handbook and its less-well-received sequel, and following the passing of Duchaine, several other authors have written booklets that have expanded well beyond the 40 or so pages of Duchaine’s debut work. These literary daughters to the Underground Steroid Handbook vary considerably in quality, depth and breadth of coverage. Certain authors have produced newsletters, websites or books of remarkable quality…Bill Phillips and Bill Roberts are highly regarded for their works. Yet, the nominal text that is most highly referenced in the field of illicit performance enhancers is the ANABOLICS series by William Llewellyn. His readership includes professional and amateur bodybuilders, athletes, physicians, coaches, legislators and lawyers. Bill Llewellyn has just completed the latest edition in the series and offered his time to discuss the book in this interview.

MD: Today’s interview is with author William Llewellyn, who has announced the completion of the latest edition of the ANABOLICS volumes. Further information on the book, including ordering information, can be obtained via the many distributors who carry the text or directly from his site at  //www.anabolicsbook.com. Bill, I am sure most readers are interested in what is new about the latest edition, but let’s backtrack a bit first. Before telling us about the book, tell us about the author. What qualifies you as an expert in a field that is littered with self-promoted gurus? Can you tell us about your formal education, your personal experiences, practical time you have spent observing users and your ad-hoc education out of the classroom?

BL: I have always had an interest in the sciences, but did not pursue a formal education. My interest in steroids specifically came informally, first with intent to use these drugs as a teenager. This quickly developed into a fascination with human performance. Most of what I have learned came from reading on my own. I would spend countless hours in the local medical library reading about these drugs during my 20s. Most people would probably find it boring, but it was the most exciting part of my week, that and the cheap hospital cafeteria food, which wasn’t half bad. I’d like to think of my job as being a bridge between the scientific world and the bodybuilding/sports community. So it is really half-science and half real-world obser

vation and application. I am not sure if there is any set qualification for such a job, as it sort of is a fringe occupation in many ways. Certainly a background in the sciences wouldn’t hurt, though.

MD: What then was your inspiration for writing a reference text on anabolics? Given your age, one can only imagine that Dan Duchaine’s booklet, the Underground Steroid Handbook, must have been influential.

BL: More than influential. Reading Duchaine’s book was a life-turning event for me. Here I was, growing up during a time when steroids were a big public interest. The controlled substance laws for anabolics were just passed after a long media crusade against the drugs. All you heard was how deadly these things were. Here I am, this skinny kid, thinking about risking it anyway, but I decided to do some research first. And then I come across this book that presents an entirely different point of view, as if the medical community and media had it entirely wrong about steroids. It gave me this sense of being on the inside of something very important. It made me want to dig into the medical books for myself, so I could understand the subject the way he did. The more I read the more I wanted to read. As years went on, the more I read the more I felt compelled to write.

MD: The first edition then was printed in 2000; how well was it received by your intended audience and those outside the muscle-sports demographic? That year was somewhat of a low point in the publishing industry, as the all-natural movement was strong and a strong push against anabolics had just been completed by the DEA. Not surprisingly, the introduction of the Bush administration and the anti-doping message that is promoted about every summer Olympic Games had also heightened the negative public stance toward performance enhancement.

BL: The bodybuilding community responded really well to the book. Sales were immediately far better than I had imagined they would be, and people were generally very happy with it, I think. It really was an amazing time in my life. The book may just have filled an important demand. I was in the right place at the right time, maybe. Those outside of the bodybuilding and sports world have always been mixed about it. Some understand that I am only trying to provide important information so that people can make informed decisions; information the medical community should be focusing on but is not. Many physicians actually buy it every year, and I’m even invited to lecture on the subject at times. Others just look at it as a book that promotes steroid abuse. The recent Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball even had some choice words about it. This is exactly the last thing I am trying to promote with ANABOLICS, of course.

MD: What were some of the early surprises and challenges you encountered with that first edition?

BL: There were small road bumps and things to get used to being “the steroid guy” to your friends and family, and people who would assume I also must be a steroid dealer. But honestly, the biggest challenge I faced was a legal battle over the copyright with my former publisher. It was a disgusting mess. My wife and I had just been married. She lost her job when her company closed, and all of our income was suddenly cut off. We were living solely off of our wedding gifts. I had to start off not only my time in this industry with this book, but my new marriage with an enormously expensive legal battle in federal court over the ownership of my own work. I won’t get into the details, but it was a long and ugly road that eventually worked out to my satisfaction. It taught me to be prepared to fight for what is mine in this industry.   

MD: After that kind of baptism, many people may have folded up the tents and walked. Did you find yourself more driven to write the second edition or less intrepid?

BL: Honestly, I would have been on the street if I didn’t write the second book. I needed the money desperately. So I just did it. I didn’t have time to think about much else.

MD: Since that time, you have sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and likely have been read in part or in whole by millions. How has the book evolved over time?

BL: Yes, definitely. I feel an enormous pressure to keep readers happy with the latest book. I can’t do that unless I substantially overhaul it each and every time. To give you some perspective, the 2000 edition only had about 200 pages, was all black-and-white, and had a handful of medical references. The latest ninth edition (2009) has about 1,000 pages, 3,000 color photographs, and over 900 medical citations. I really put my heart and soul into this latest update. And many readers have been enormously helpful by keeping me up on details in local markets. This edition is the most extensive overhaul of the book yet. I trust people are really going to notice the changes this year.

MD: You are titling the latest edition in a way that is different from your conventional ANABOLICS. Tell us about what defines this edition?

BL: It really signifies the completion of the book for me, at least the fundamental structure of it. Each year, I often would get lost in black-market updates and relevant time-sensitive information. The early chapters of the book, especiallythe practical applications section, have been in strong need of a rewrite for a long time. This latest edition was put on hold one year (we skipped 2008) so I could finally complete this. I feel the foundations of the book are now complete. It will probably be another two or three years minimum before I come out with the next one, as it will take this long before I have enough new information to justify the printing of a new edition. I won’t release a new book just for a few updates. So using edition numbers instead of dating it by year at this point seems to make the most sense.

MD: The book opens with an introduction to androgen physiology and the “mechanics” of anabolic steroid use by bodybuilders, including representative examples of common cycles. The “meat-and-potatoes” of the book is a description of the individual drugs, their history, use, common dosages and descriptions of legitimate and counterfeit packaging/pill/vials. Tell us what you have seen in the trends of use. What was the historical use of anabolic steroids and how does that compare to now?

BL: I think for one, the average steroid user is more sophisticated today. Information is much more readily accessible, and as a result, they are more likely to do things like use a PCT (post-cycle therapy) program, or even just simply use anti-estrogens, aromatase inhibitors, or reductase inhibitors to counter common side effects. At the same time, though, I must admit I do see a stronger trend for abuse. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, you were more likely to see people taking say 400mg a week of testosterone, or 20mg of Dianabol per day and considering it a good cycle. While many people do still follow these programs, there are also a growing number who consider 1g per week of testosterone stacked with pretty formidable doses of trenbolone and Anadrol to be a good beginner’s cycle. Honestly, this trend does concern me a bit. I would like to see more people consider the first type of dosing patterns I discussed. These really are sufficient for most circumstances.

MD: What about the drugs being synthesized to be “undetectable” by WADA? Were you aware of the existence of these drugs generally, and specifically, THG and the cream, prior to the news releases involving the BALCO arrests? How pervasive is this market or has it been effectively stopped?

BL: People have known about designer steroids in general for a long time. I don’t want to comment on anything I may or may not have known about any compounds specifically that was not public knowledge, as discretion is key to my ability to research in this field. I will say I don’t believe that it is a pervasive problem. I do believe that some designer steroids are likely still being used. Especially after a scandal like BALCO though, the use of such compounds is going to be an even more closely guarded secret.  

MD: Of course, many users now combine other drugs with AAS. What is the most common adjunct drug or drug class used during a cycle? What adjunct(s) are the most concerning from your point of view?

BL: I believe Nolvadex (tamoxifen) is still the most widely used ancillary medication, although many people are using a variety of aromatase inhibitors to block the side effects of estrogen, too. The most concerning are those that have a risk of death if the dose is miscalculated, such as insulin and DNP. The latter is probably the most dangerous compound that I discuss in the book, as it is classified as a poison and is not even available as a prescription drug product.

MD: In addition to drugs to help improve AAS effectiveness or potency, and control side effects, there are also many drugs taken to pass a drug screen. You don’t discuss those much, but obviously that is part of the use for athletes who are violating banned drug rules in sport. A number of recent suspensions have been announced relating to such practice. What are you seeing in effectiveness of a user passing drug screens when using “detectable” AAS or other performance enhancers?

BL: It is still possible to pass a drug test using conventional steroids so long as you know when you have to take it, and can avoid random “out of competition” testing for a sufficient length of time. This usually means fast-acting injectable testosterone and oral anabolic steroids, which are discontinued weeks before the drug test will take place. Blocking agents that prevent renal steroid excretion are not as widely used. Pretty simple stuff, still.

MD: It seems that in the last 10 years, access to research-grade drugs has infiltrated into the market to a small degree. Do you feel you are staying up-to-date with the newest agents being used in the underground community?

BL: I am definitely making an effort to study the research chemicals as information becomes available. I haven’t specifically included most of these compounds in ANABOLICS however, as they have never been approved pharmaceuticals. ANABOLICS is really about established drugs. That is not to say I am ignoring them. In fact, I can’t give you exact details, but I am working on another project that will cover in great detail a lot of these newer and lesser-known compounds.

MD: How difficult is it to keep up-to-date with the non-AAS performance enhancers? There are a number of drugs out there, many of which are not androgen based.

BL: It is much harder, simply because these compounds are so new and there isn’t a lot of research on them, especially in humans. As you know, a drug has to progress quite far in animal experiments before the government will grant approval for human trials. So what we do know about these compounds tends to come from limited animal data, and of course the human guinea pigs who don’t mind injecting themselves with a research chemical to grow some muscle, perhaps years before it is ever approved for the earliest phases of human testing.

MD: The sources for much of the “practical” information in your books come from the AAS-using community. What are some of the more noteworthy contributions you have received? The most unusual?

BL: The community as a whole has been really supportive of the book. If I had to pick the most unusual contributors, they would have to be some of the people who run underground steroid manufacturing operations. I have even had the opportunity to meet with some of these owners in person. Knowing that my position is generally for people to avoid underground pharmaceuticals, I have been somewhat surprised that so many labs have been willing and anxious to supply information.

MD: Do you get feedback/information from other countries to a great degree, or is most of this information U.S. specific?

BL: I have had the good fortune to be able to speak with people from all around the world. If you can find a country with an active bodybuilding culture, I’ve probably been in contact with people there. It’s given me a great opportunity to learn not only about the anabolics scene in various countries, but often a little about the people and the culture. I really hope to be able to travel to many of these places at some point.

MD: With the withdrawal of standard pharmaceutical manufacturers, the packaging, dosing, labeling and stamping of these products are more diverse than ever. Add to that the potential complication of products in a foreign language or from home-based specialty labs, it has to be nearly impossible to keep track of what is legitimate versus fake, and what is on the label versus what is adulterated or mis-dosed. One feature of your books that plays a vital role to the illicit consumer is identifying counterfeit vs. legitimate product. Would you talk about what you provide relating to identifying these products and what you find when looking for adulterated products?

BL: I have to admit this is an increasingly difficult part of my job. Most counterfeiters used to be fairly small operations. Their products were often easy to spot. Now we have an increasing number of what I would consider large-scale sophisticated commercial counterfeiting operations. Their products can often be difficult to spot. As best as I can, I am always trying to track down known legitimate versions of each pharmaceutical so I can compare them to other products for minor deviations. I also spend a good amount of money on lab testing each year. We’ve been looking at more than just what/how much steroid is in each product for this latest edition. We wanted to know how clean and pure each product was, so we’ve been testing for other additional things like heavy metals and steroidal intermediaries. I have to be honest, the current state of the underground market is not looking that good. On the last run of testing, more than 20 percent of the products had heavy metals contamination. A higher percentage still had unidentified steroidal compounds. True pharmaceutical-grade steroid products are getting harder and harder to find. I also like to try and keep up on effective security measures. For instance, all Greek drugs still carry a sticker that will show a distinct pattern when held under ultraviolet light. U.S. Depot-Testosterone is another product with a hidden mark that appears under UV light. So far these security measures have been some of the safes from counterfeiters. I always try to highlight what are the most reliable products on the black market when I can.

MD: Bill, this was a long discussion on a project that you have been working on and improving steadily for years. The layman community has found great value in your books, but what about the professional community? Do you get feedback or questions from physicians, coaches, trainers, lawyers, legislators and the like?

BL: Yes, we’ve seen a growing interest in this book in areas outside the athletic community. I’ve been able to speak with many doctors, health care workers and law enforcement officers. I’ve even been invited to speak at professional conferences. I believe ANABOLICS is becoming increasingly recognized in all areas where steroid use is of professional interest, and quite often it is found very useful. This has opened many new doors for me, and keeps my flow of information from being too one-sided.  

MD: All very interesting and we thank you for your time. Is there anything you would like to add as we close?

A: Thank you, Dr. Gwartney. It’s been a pleasure. I would just like to add for those who have never read one of the ANABOLICS books, that it really is an objective reference on the science and application of anabolic steroids. It is not a book that encourages the abuse of these drugs, but does try to give people the information they need to make the best choices. We all know that the medical community essentially ignores the steroid user today (millions of steroid users). This is the fundamental problem that has always driven me to write and update this book for all these years. Information is everything. If you can better understand the ins and outs of these drugs, you are in a much better position to make an informed decision and use them with higher relative safety and benefit.

SIDEBAR

MD: Rapid-fire questions: Most effective single steroid according to your reader’s feedback?

BL: Still Anadrol. Not the friendliest steroid, but still the most effective.

MD: Most popular stack?

BL: Difficult to say for sure. Testosterone and Dianabol, maybe. Trenbolone is becoming very popular these days too.

MD: Does the average user need PCT? If so, what is the most positively reported course?

BL: Yes, PCT is probably a good idea for all cycles, except the very briefest. I like the one published by the Program for Wellness Restoration (PoWeR). It is based on a brief course of HCG, Clomid and Nolvadex. They are all initiated together. HCG is dropped first, followed by Nolvadex and finally, Clomid. The data on their subjects looked pretty good. This is the program I outline in ANABOLICS.

MD: Where is the illicit supply originating from and how is it being distributed?

BL: Mexico is not as big of a source country as it used to be. I think China is still at the root of the raw powder market, supplying the underground labs and many legitimate companies as well. Most finished anabolics today are coming in from Asia and Eastern Europe. The Internet is still a thriving marketplace for their sale, as are networks of local dealers.

MD: What is the prevalence of serious adverse effects in steroid users from your perspective?

BL: I’d say somewhere in the middle between rare and common. I believe heart disease in particular results from steroid abuse more often than people understand. As you know, physicians always have a hard time isolating individual factors that may have influenced cardiovascular disease. For example, we all understand fast food can be very bad for you, but cause of death is never listed as “greasy cheeseburgers;” it is simply myocardial infarction (heart attack). How is a physician going to blame steroids for something that took decades to develop and is affected by so many other genetic, dietary and lifestyle variables? But that doesn’t mean these drugs aren’t commonly involved. I believe they are, and people do need to be careful when it comes to the cardiovascular side effects of steroids, especially when they are taking these drugs in high doses for long periods of time.

MD: What supplement(s) do you feel people should use on cycle and post-cycle?

BL: I think the two most important areas are cardiovascular support and liver support. The latter, of course, is only really important if you are taking liver toxic steroids. To help keep cholesterol in check, a quality fish oil supplement is always a good idea; maybe 4 grams per day. I also like a lot of the better-studied cholesterol support ingredients like garlic, green tea, niacin, etc. Of the classic liver support products, I have recommended Liv-52 and Essential forte. Both are very good. This year, I also launched two products to support these health areas under my Molecular Nutrition label, called Lipid Stabil and Liver Stabil, respectively.  

MD: What is the future for anabolics?

BL: I think the trends of the last few years will continue. The governments of the world are going to further the criminalization of anabolic steroids, which will push the market further and further underground. As it is now, we are seeing more raw powders being smuggled into the U.S. than finished product. I think as the years go on, you will have more homebrew underground labs supplying the market, and fewer legitimate pharmaceutical products. This frightens me, to be honest.

MD: What is your opinion on the existence of “roid rage” and have you seen uncharacteristic explosive anger/violence in a user?

BL: A small percentage of users, roughly 5 percent, seem to become emotionally unstable with high doses of steroids. They are more argumentative and aggressive, and can have dramatic mood swings. This is a small percentage, and about as close to any type of a “roid rage” as I am willing to go. I don’t believe steroids can turn a normal, sane person into a criminally violent individual. I do think some people shouldn’t be taking steroids for emotional/psychological reasons, though.

MD: From your perspective, is there such a thing as “too much” or is the “more is better” crowd right?

BL: I am definitively not a “more is better” fan for several reasons. For one, outside of a pretty moderate range, the return is very low for your dosage. For example, 400-500mg per week of testosterone is a good dose. You will build decent muscle with it. You can take more, but are not going to gain say three times more weight on 1,200-1,500mg per week. You will gain a little more but pay for it with a lot more side effects and cardiovascular strain. Also, gains made from excessive doses tend to be lost more quickly following steroid cycles. Those who gain slowly and steadily seem to retain their muscle better. Bottom line, unless you are a competitive pro bodybuilder, I think you should stay away from high doses, and focus more on maximizing your results from moderate doses by paying even closer attention to training and diet. Use steroids to enhance your programs if you need, not as a shortcut to hard work.

MD: What advice would you give your (hypothetical) 18-year-old son? What about your 40-year-old brother? 60-year-old father?

BL: For the 60-year-old, and many men decades younger, I’d say that testosterone could be a very helpful medication to take in corrective doses. I am a big supporter of testosterone replacement therapy. For anyone looking to take high doses to build muscle, I’d have the following advice. Steroids are effective medications. They build muscle very well. But they also have their dangers. Anyone considering it should understand all the risks before they commit to anything. The “fuck it; it’s no big deal” attitude is the wrong one to have. You should also think about your long-term goals. Do you plan on using steroids frequently? Just once? If I had a dime for every time someone told me they would try just one cycle and went on to abuse steroids for years, I’d be a rich man. I try not to preach. I just want everyone to be careful and think about their health first, whatever they decide to do.

MD: How frequently are fakes found on the market?

BL: Very frequently. I get to keep a pretty close eye on this too. I’d estimate in the U.S. right now, well more than 50 percent of the steroids circulating are either counterfeit or from underground labs. Legitimate human-grade pharmaceuticals are fairly rare these days. Legitimate human-grade pharmaceuticals from Western drug companies are even more rare still.