Body of lies

Mumbai's bodybuilders are wary of taking chemical supplements after steroids killed gym instructor Mahesh Khokarale on November 8

Body of lies

Mumbai's bodybuilders are wary of taking chemical supplements after steroids killed gym instructor Mahesh Khokarale on November 8

Prasad Rane dreams of winning big. At 20, he's already a regular at body building competitions. But the past few months have shaken him considerably.

At first it was news of the death of city body building champion Mahesh Khokarale, who died from malaria, though doctors at KEM Hospital said steroids destroyed his liver.

Then came the news of a Naigaon man, who died after taking his bodybuilder brother's protein pills.

"This boy used to envy his brother's physique and, he'd see him popping pills every day. He died mysteriously, but it seems like a strange coincidence now that he was also taking supplements before he passed away," said Rane.

Rane now opts for a natural protein boost, which means eating 33 egg whites daily, but admits it's hard.

"I used to ask my trainer for various tips or things I could take to build muscles, but ever since I heard of people dying, it's scary," said Rane.

And Rane is not alone. Bodybuilders across the city are proceeding with caution and doctors are holding counselling sessions for trainers who aspire to make it big in the world of fitness.
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"It is not unnatural for these young boys to ask how they can quickly build muscle.

The most bizarre query I've ever got is from a boy who asked me if he could inject coconut hair oil into his arm," said Dr Rishi Sherekar, a sports medicine specialist and director of Esportaa Fitness Solutions.

Dangerous move

The oil leaves a deposit of fat between layers of muscle, and adds almost instant bulk to arm muscles.

"However, if the needles mistakenly inject the fat into the blood stream, one could have a fatal stroke and pass away," said Sherekar, who has trained the likes of Akshay Kumar.

Vicky Goraksha, a bodybuilding event judge, said people often take more supplements than necessary.

"Very few such cases are reported, so builders thinku00a0 that their health won't be affected," said Goraksha.

In America

US bodybuilder Mike Mentzer (49) was found dead in his apartment in 2001 after succumbing to heart complications.
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It was, however, rumoured that these complications were brought about by the excessive consumption of supplements.

Did you know?
Fat burners and excessive proteins lead to development of man breasts, balding, acne, insomnia and irregular periods in women.