Transcribed Interview

Few people can tell you more about the use of performance enhancing drugs, often referred to as steroids, Than Patrick lahr. Patrick competed as a bodybuilder for the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States, the National Physique Committee, (NPC) for about three years before becoming a personal trainer in the fitness industry for seven years and counting. During his time competing as a bodybuilder, Patrick won the prestigious title of Mr. WIsconsin back in 2013, and is well aware of the use of steroids as a part of the sport, saying, “I think it's a part of the culture and I think that its well known that they are being used in competitions.” Patrick also went on to say that, “ there are organizations that tes and ones that don't- if you want to try and compete with guys that you know are doping then you don't have to.” However, for other sports like baseball, track, etc., Patrick was a little less supportive, saying, “For those sports, am i supportive of it? Eh but i think it needs to be on a even playing field. But I don't think that performance enhancing drugs will ever not be a part of the sport.” He then pointed out how for many aging athletes, it's often difficult to keep up with the younger and more vigorous competition , going on to say how he believed that for these older athletes, “I don't think it should be looked at performance enhancing. A lot of guys don't realize that the side effects of getting older such as fatigue, less energy, etc. are all due to decreased levels of testosterone and yea, a lot of those consequences are due to lifestyle choices, but steroid use will help them with that deterioration.” Patrick then pointed out how steroids really aren't that damaging or harmful when used responsibly, pointing out how negatively they are viewed by the majority of people without advanced knowledge, I think it was propagandized to look bad in an unrealistic light. I mean women are put on steroids for menopause and its isn't looked at in nearly the same light, I think there's kind of a grey area there.”

As personal trainer, Patrick does have clients ask him about the potential for steroids, and whether the potential hazards to health are worth it, for these kinds of questions, Patrick often recommends that people get their supplies from a safe and reliable source, even if that means that the price may be more costly, “ when they ask me i say go out there and ask doctors about it and do it smart, but another big thing about it is the price, where you can get testosterone for $100 in 1 week compared to going to a doctor and getting it $75 for each week.” As mentioned earlier, there are different leagues of competition that either test for steroid use or don't. When asked if he believed that the proper tests and precautions were being taken to ensure that steroids were not being used in the leagues that tested for them, Patrick replied, “Yea for the most part, but there's always a work around. As soon as you come up with a test someone's coming up with a way around it. “ It's almost guaranteed that in any form of serious competition, there are always those who will do whatever it takes to get ahead of the competition, and according to Patrick, “There’s always gonna be someone who finds a way to cheat, but they have it pretty down pat in terms of testing for steroid use.”

Even if he were given the ability to increase the restrictions and tests done to ensure the integrity of athletes, Patrick claims that it isn't really possible, stating; “No way, because there will always be someone who beats it.”, citing how there are always new ways being found of cheating the system, so to speak. With the debate over steroid use in bodybuilding, those arguing in favor of the legalization of their use often bring up that their use makes the sport more interesting and draw a bigger crowd, when asked for his opinion of this Patrick stated, “Eh. Look at the bodybuilding industry now, you have ppl taking it too extreme that there's a carelessness that's seriously negatively affecting people. I think people need to make sure their being careful but will it enhance the sport? Possibly.” Towards the end of our discussion, I asked Patrick if he believed that legagalizing but moitoring and controlling the use of steroids would be a better system than the one currently in place of outright banning them. Patrick responded, “Yea 100%, i think it would be saying yes you can do what you want as long as you stay within these parameters, everyone responds differently to different things, but as long as everyone stays within certain parameters, its fine. “ Patrick then compared the sport of bodybuilding to car racing, pointing out that for drag racing you could amp your vehicle up with whatever you wanted as long as it stayed within certain parameters.