health
February 15, 2026
I thought my powerlifter father was the strongest man in the world. But a secret steroid addiction took him
He didn’t look like a stereotypical ‘drug addict’, but when he fled to South Africa with all our savings it was obvious that is what he had become

TL;DR
- The author's father, a world champion powerlifter, appeared outwardly strong and healthy but was secretly addicted to steroids and cocaine.
- His addiction led to severe consequences, including betraying his family, financial devastation, and mental health struggles manifesting in suicide attempts.
- Steroid addiction can have significant physical and psychological effects, including heart problems and personality changes, and does not always present with visible physical deterioration.
- The father eventually recovered from his addiction, got clean, and returned to competing drug-free.
- The article notes the rising issue of steroid use, particularly among young men, driven by social media pressures and unrealistic body image standards.
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