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From construction site to stage: Stralsund bodybuilder warns of doping risks!
Alireza Arghandepour, bodybuilder from Stralsund, pursues discipline and healthy eating for competitions. Fitness tips and doping warnings.
From construction site to stage: Stralsund bodybuilder warns of doping risks!
Alireza Arghandepour is not only a construction manager in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but also an enthusiastic bodybuilder. His everyday life begins early: he gets up at 6 a.m. and often only returns to Stralsund after a long day of work of up to 12 hours. During this time he devotes himself intensively to his training and nutrition, two central pillars of his life that have accompanied him over the last five years on the way to his ideal image of the “perfect” body. Through his strict diet and tough training regime, he has lost almost 30 kilograms in just six months and reduced his calorie intake from 3,500 to 1,800 per day. Baltic Sea newspaper reports that Alireza can be found in the gym four to five times a week, where he works on his competition preparation.
His eating habits are remarkable: daily meals - mainly rice with chicken, rice cakes with turkey cold cuts and protein shakes. In order to stick to his strict eating plan, he pre-cooks his meals and takes them with him to the construction site. He is currently preparing for the East German and German Championships and narrowly missed the top 5 out of 25 starters in the first competition. His goal is to compete again next year. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his great role model, won't let him go.
The dark side of bodybuilding
What many people don't know is that bodybuilding is considered one of the riskiest sports, especially because of widespread doping abuse. A study by the University of Padua showed that between 2005 and 2020, of 20,286 male bodybuilders who took part in IFBB competitions, 121 died during the observation period. Almost 40% of these deaths were due to sudden cardiac death. Sports show notes that the risk in bodybuilding is significantly higher compared to other sports such as football or marathon. 7% of the bodybuilders who took part in the "Mr. Olympia" died of sudden cardiac death.
Alireza also warns about the health risks, determined to avoid doping since athletes are not tested regularly. The health risks, particularly from anabolic steroids, are serious. These substances can lead to hormonal imbalances, organ damage and cardiac arrhythmias - warnings supported by experts such as cardiologist Claudia Beckendorf.
The Institute of Biochemistry at the German Sport University Cologne offers a deeper insight into the dangers, which explains that anabolic steroids are associated with serious side effects. DSHS Cologne knows that both positive and negative psychotropic effects can occur, ranging from euphoria to increased aggressiveness. High-dose anabolic steroids have the potential to significantly alter behavior and could cause bodybuilders to experience serious health difficulties.
In an environment characterized by increasing pressure and the pursuit of perfection, the question remains: How healthy is the path to the “perfect” body actually? While Alireza Arghandepour takes the natural route, he faces many of the uncertainties associated with doping in bodybuilding. His courage and discipline are admirable, but the dark side of the sport casts a long shadow on the path to success.