Chris is one of the youngest IFBB pro bodybuilders on the globe, widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders around.
According to Generation Iron and expert opinions, he’s a unique bodybuilder with a bright future who seems to follow the footsteps of champs like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dorian Yates, and Ronnie Coleman.
However, when people see his impressively jacked physique, many question it, accusing him of using steroids. Chris Bumstead credits his workouts, diet and genetics for his success.
We’ve done thorough research trying to figure out whether Chris is natural or these accusations may be true.
Here’s what we’ve found out.
Quick Summary
- Chris Bumstead might be natural because such a body can be attained by hitting the gym, eating a healthy diet, and taking legal supplements.
- Some signs of steroid misuse are 3D shoulders, acne, flushed skin, and positive drug test.
- There are natural and legal steroids individuals can use to enhance their gym performance, and energy levels.
Does Chris Bumstead Show Any Common Signs Of Steroid Use?
Chris Bumstead does show some common signs of steroid use. But we can’t undoubtedly claim whether a bodybuilder is a steroid user or not without testing his blood sample for performance enhancers.
However, some common indicators can help us recognize whether someone may be using androgenic anabolic steroids for their classic physique.
Below are the most prominent telltale signs that can reveal steroid misuse.
View this post on Instagram
1. Huge Muscle Mass and 3D Shoulders
Spectacularly massive, round, 3D-like shoulders with the perfectly defined trapezius and deltoid muscles, in particular, are a clear sign of using steroids.
It takes ages and is tremendously difficult (nearly impossible) to carve such boulder shoulders naturally within a short period because massive gains in lean muscle mass (especially in that muscle group) are painstakingly slow.
On the other hand, when a bodybuilder takes steroids (androgenic substances that increase his testosterone levels), his shoulders pop up first and grow much faster than the other body parts.
It happens because the delts contain far more androgen receptors than other muscle groups, and these receptors enhance muscle protein synthesis when stimulated by androgenic hormones like testosterone [2].
High doses of testosterone also cause muscle striations and bloating.
Anyone who’s seen his tiny waist wouldn’t say that Chris Bumstead looks bloated, right?
This guy has a classic bodybuilding physique - stunning aesthetics paired with perfect proportions - extremely conditioned, tall, lean muscular figure with a small waist and impressively pronounced, round, and solid shoulders.
If you’re looking for the perfect solution to become more buff like Chris but have a more natural look without using steroids, watch our Free "Saiyan Unleashed" Masterclass. In this video, Total Shape coach Benedict Ang reveals exactly how to get incredibly shredded and insanely muscular without being a slave to the gym or restrictive diets.
The size and shape of his 3D shoulders and clear signs of muscle striations (mostly on his chest) make Chris Bumstead suspicious of using steroids or at least their legal alternative, including additional testosterone.
It’s also always suspicious when a small guy becomes a mass monster like a mini Hulk in a few months, regardless of stunning genetics, vigorous workouts, and diet plan, which is what many people noticed when comparing Chris Bumstead before and after photos on social media.
However, Chris started training at the age of 14. So, a possible explanation for his massive growth could be his puberty, when teens can grow much faster, like on steroids due to naturally higher amounts of testosterone and growth hormone.
In addition, his trainer was his sister’s boyfriend, Iain Valliere, one of the best bodybuilders in the world.
It might be possible that winning the genetics lottery in combination with the best training and diet regimen this professional IFBB bodybuilder provided Chris at a very young age enabled him to achieve such a massive growth faster than other average guys.
No one can say for sure whether steroid consumption contributed to this phenomenon or not.
2. Acne
Androgenic steroids often cause fluctuations in hormones, such as growth hormones, stimulating the sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
Oily skin commonly leads to pores blocked with dirt or bacteria, resulting in acne or blemishes [3].
If you take a closer look at his social media photos, you’ll probably notice that Chris Bumstead has mild acne breakouts on different body parts (commonly reported among Trenbolone users and other growth hormones).
Still, it looks far from the severe side effect steroid users may experience and doesn’t automatically mean he’s taking steroids. Plus, his young age and puberty might have caused acne.
3. Flushed Skin
Another common side effect of steroids is flushed skin.
Steroids typically raise LDL cholesterol levels, increasing the core body’s temperature and blood pressure [4] because the body’s struggling to cool down to its normal temperature.
It makes your skin look flushed and red as after a hot bath.
While the skin color of a natural bodybuilder is pink when in a sauna or working out, a bodybuilder using steroids often has a red chest and other body parts even if not working out.
Luckily, it looks normal again as soon as they stop using steroids.
Uncommonly for naturals, Chris Bumstead often has flushed skin, particularly on his upper chest.
Still, it proves nothing since it doesn’t look so severely red as the skin of some other bodybuilders who undoubtedly abuse steroids.
4. Tests
A drug test is the only 100% reliable way to determine whether someone uses steroids.
Let’s take a closer look at the early life and competition history of Chris Bumstead to figure out whether he has ever been tested.
This young Canadian bodybuilder first competed in 2014 at the age of 19 and earned his IFBB Pro Card upon winning the IFBB North American Bodybuilding Championships in 2016 when he was only 21 years old.
Does IFBB allow steroids?
The IFBB organization officially doesn’t allow steroids in its competitions. However, it seems not to have a strict drug-testing policy as some pros even admitted using illegal drugs.
Chris Bumstead was also Mr. Olympia’s title winner in The Classic Physique division in 2019 and 2020 (although he made his bodybuilding debut and won in the men’s open category - the mass monster division).
Here’s what he says about his passion for the “classic” look as the reigning Classic Physique Champion:
“Physique wise switching to the Classic division drove my passion through the roof, thinking now of symmetry aesthetics and portraying it all as a form of art through posing is such a different dynamic than just trying to be huge.”
- Chris Bumstead, IFBB Professional Bodybuilder
Are you allowed to use steroids in Mr. Olympia Stage?
Participants in the Natural BB division of this competition get tested and aren’t allowed to use steroids. However, the competition doesn’t address the issue in the other categories.
Chris also competed in Canada’s Bodybuilding Federation (CBBF).
According to the search results, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for harmonizing anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within sport organizations and among countries [5].
However, after digging deeper, some insider information revealed that the CBBF testing procedure is random, meaning that only a few bodybuilders get tested for drugs.
Here are the relevant facts we’ve found out:
Chris competed in the CBBF and was never listed on their official “shame page” with the athletes who were caught juicing and failed a test.
Still, it doesn’t prove that he was ever tested at all.
Although it’s hard for me to imagine that Chris would play Russian roulette with his entire career, it’s theoretically possible that he used steroids but “got lucky” (won the titles without getting drug tested).
Also, make sure to check out Chris Bumstead's workout routine and diet plan.
Related Articles:
Is Chris Bumstead Natural or Does He Take Anabolic Steroids?
Chris Bumstead’s amazingly shredded physique looks photoshopped. No wonder it’s hard to believe it’s a natural result of his hard work and superior genetics.
His massive capped shoulders with popping deltoids, acne breakouts, and flushed, red skin may all be indicators of steroid abuse.
But, apart from pure speculation, we have no solid evidence to prove whether Chris is on steroids, and it’s possible to achieve such classic physique naturally.
Our recommended natural and legal steroid for men successfully helped many clients in rapid muscle growth by improving gym performance and energy levels. These legal body building supplements are designed to stimulate protein synthesis and thus rapid muscle growth.
References:
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/steroids-other-appearance-performance-enhancing-drugs-apeds/what-are-side-effects-anabolic-steroid-misuse
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977687/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1387354/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15248788/
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/what-we-do/world-anti-doping-code
About The Author
You May Also Like
