A confessed user of performance-enhancing drugs has spoken of his experiences – and the wide availability and low cost of such chemicals – despite the UAE’s zero-tolerance laws.
“It’s much cheaper over here and much less of a risk than the US,” said the American, who preferred to remain anonymous. “There is an anti-oestrogen called Nolvadex that you can buy at any pharmacy here with no prescription, but if you brought it to the States you would be arrested. The price here is about 25 per cent cheaper than the States.”
Human-growth hormone, increasingly used in the bodybuilding community, was until recently also available over the counter in pharmacies but now requires a prescription.
“They had a crackdown on it,” the user said. “It costs about Dh6,000 a month to take four international units a day, which is a pretty standard dose for men.
“Women can take one a day and get results over a few months’ time.
“Women would likely do Anavar [injectable steroids] and Clenbuterol [injectable fat burner]. Anavar is the ‘safest’ steroid for women with almost no side affects.
“Winstrol is one some women tend to go for after Anavar. It’s kind of an upgrade in results.
“The problem becomes the masculine traits that reveal themselves when taken for too long – squaring of the jaw, genital deformity, deepening of the voice – all of which are irreversible.
“Some women who have chosen to go the extreme path of Winstrol even add low doses of testosterone Enanthate at a dose of 50 milligrams a week, while also adding Primobolan at a dose of 50mg a week.
“These women gain extreme lean mass quickly and the muscles become harder as well as more pronounced, like a balloon.
“They become more veiny, aggressive and all around more manly when testosterone is increased.
“Most women never take that step to injections, but common dysmorphia can cause a woman to see something completely different than the general public, which causes them to adjust the cycle to go further, and then things become obvious and irreversible.
“It’s a lot different for men. Women are very sensitive to the stuff, much more than males.
“I think the women involved in doing figure modelling are most susceptible to giving in to the pressure to look lean and hard.
“They have all kinds of pressure from all angles and are being scrutinised by everyone.
“So they level the playing field, normally with some Clenbuterol or T3 [fat burner] and Anavar if they are hard gainers [of muscle mass or carry a lot of fat].”
mswan@thenational.ae
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 366Nm
Price: Dh200,000
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
More coverage from the Future Forum
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Company%20Profile
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