Gladiators star Giant encouraged fans to use dangerous steroids in YouTube video
Gladiator Giant can be seen boasting about using dangerous steroids in an old YouTube video.
The BBC star has since said stopped using steroids at the end of 2022 and no longer uses them - adding that he does not "not advocate the use of them."
In one video titled "Take this and you will get big", Jamie Christian-Johal, an ex-fireman, admitted to taking muscle boosting Class C drugs, which can result in heart attacks, kidney failure and psychiatric trauma. In the video, Giant discussed how steroid abuse is rife in competitive bodybuilding.
He said: "I already had eight years training under my belt and I had already competed twice. And I got some phenomenal gains off that," before adding: “I know a lot of guys taking a lot of drugs and they are small and out of shape.” Giant argued that training, nutrition and lifestyle play the biggest role in succeeding in the industry.
Giant admits to taking steroids in the videoIn another clip, he admitted: “I didn’t start taking steroids until I was 24 years old.” The married father from Derbyshire told told The Mirror on Saturday that he came off the steroids in late 2022. He said in a statement: "I have always been open and transparent about my use of steroids whilst I was a professional bodybuilder.
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"During that time, I spoke openly about the legal use of performance enhancements as a competitive bodybuilder and how to safely administer them. I stopped competing as a bodybuilder in October 2022 and responsibly came off steroids. I am no longer a professional bodybuilder and am no longer taking steroids and do not advocate the use of them.”
Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs are legal to use but can only be issued by pharmacists with a prescription. They are illegal to sell and the penalty is an unlimited fine, or jail term of up to 14 years. Reduced sperm count, infertility, shrunken testicles, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, breast development and an increased risk of prostate cancer, are all side-effects of anabolic steroids. It's reported that Gladiators has been thrown into chaos by the unearthed video.
The BBC were reportedly made aware of the videos on Friday, with a source telling The Sun that this is a "nightmare" as "fans could find his advice for taking steroids with just a simple Google search of his name.” The broadcaster said on Saturday: “The Gladiators production team were robust with their no-drugs policy and drug testing was part of the process which all Gladiators agreed to and complied with. The results showed that they were not taking performance enhancing drugs.”
Before Gladiators launched last weekend, Giant spoke of his fondness for the original series and how he wanted to make the original stars proud. He said: "The weirdest moment for me was when I was competing on Duel. I was looking across at the contender, and just beyond his shoulder I spotted Saracen, one of the original Gladiators in the audience staring at me. I was like ‘Wow, this is pressure’.
"That was probably the most memorable moment in terms of audience interaction and just feeling like I had to prove myself. Plus, I had the feeling of responsibility because this show was so iconic because of the original Gladiators, and we want to make them proud."
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