Experts are urging gym-lovers to avoid steroids after bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman was hospitalized due to a bloodstream infection this week.
Coleman, 61, is largely regarded as one of bodybuilding’s greatest ever competitors and holds the joint all-time record for most Mr. Olympia titles at eight.
But he has admitted in the past to using steroids since the age of 30 to build muscle after he was ‘tired of getting my ass kicked [at competition].’
The athlete also noted he would get prescriptions from doctors and would show them to drug enforcement officials when they questioned about drug usage.
As of 2025, officials have banned the use of anabolic steroids for muscle enhancement in most athletic sports.
Anabolic steroids – synthetic versions of testosterone – are often prescribed to patients suffering from delayed puberty, muscle loss due to diseases like cancer or HIV and other conditions involving low testosterone levels.
However, the drug is also heavily misused by bodybuilders, athletes and influencers looking to enhance muscle growth and performance.
But since his sudden hospitalization, doctors want to caution those looking to bulk up due to the dangerous effects it can have on the heart, liver and kidneys, all of which could pave the way for bloodstream infections and organ damage.
Dr Raj Dasgupta, a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist and associate professor at University of Southern California told the Daily Mail: ‘Long-term, anabolic steroid use, like what’s been reported in Ronnie Coleman’s case, can seriously strain the body and lead to major medical emergencies.
‘We’re talking heart attacks, strokes, and even sudden cardiac death, often due to high blood pressure, thickened heart muscle or increased risk of blood clots.’
Ronnie Coleman, 61, has admitted to using steroids since the age of 30 to build muscle after he was ‘tired of getting my ass kicked [at competition
Experts warn these drugs are often taken by bodybuilders at doses up to 10 times higher than those used medically – which is dangerous to human health.
Dr Dasgupta said: ‘The liver and kidneys can take a big hit, with the potential for liver failure, internal bleeding, or kidney damage from things like rhabdomyolysis, which happens when muscles break down under extreme stress.
Dr Raj Dasgupta, Chief Medical Advisor for Sleepopolis
‘Anabolic steroids also throw off your metabolism, increasing the risk for things like insulin resistance or dangerous fluid retention.’
A 2006 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes study found that healthy men who use anabolic steroids can develop liver toxicity within 12 weeks of starting the drugs.
Scientists have long been concerned about the toxic effects steroids have in the bloodstream and flowing to the liver and kidneys, as they are the main site of blood purification.
Previous research has shown that steroids can cause a buildup of bile in the liver, leading to jaundice and organ damage.
At times, it can also cause a serious condition called peliosis hepatis, the formation of blood-filled cysts in the liver – potentially leading to liver rupture and internal bleeding.
Additionally, studies have found that anabolic steroids can directly cause damage to the glomeruli, the main blood filtering units of the kidneys.
Furthermore, previous research has shown the drugs can suppress the immune system, making it difficult for the body to release antibodies to fight serious infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Anabolic steroids are heavily misused by bodybuilders, athletes and influencers looking to enhance muscle growth and performance
A bloodstream infection (BSI), also known as blood poisoning, occurs when bacteria or other microorganisms enters the bloodstream and multiplies – causing a systemic infection.
However, while the body is able to fight the bacteria through filtration and antibodies, liver and kidney damage can hamper the blood purification process in the body.
Combined with a suppressed immune system, it becomes difficult for the body to fight against an infection – which can cause it to spread to multiple organs.
If left untreated, a blood infection can quickly turn into sepsis, which in certain cases can cause death.
A 2018 Cardiovascular Journal of Africa study found 24 percent of men who took steroids developed atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque) in their coronary arteries compared to non–users.
The researchers discovered that consuming steroids can increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol in the heart.
Over time, this can lead to a buildup of fats, cholesterol on the artery walls – making them hard and narrow, which can impact blood flow in the body.
Coleman pictured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (right) back in 2001
This can elevate blood pressure significantly and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even in young bodybuilders and athletes.
Last night, Coleman’s family wrote in an emotional Instagram post: ‘Ronnie has been transferred to a specialized medical facility to receive the highest level of care available.
‘He is currently being treated for an infection in his bloodstream and remains under close, intensive medical supervision.
‘While his condition remains complex, there have been encouraging signs of progress, and his medical team is working around the clock to support his recovery.
‘At this stage, key evaluations and treatments are ongoing, and Ronnie continues to fight with the strength and resilience that define him.
‘We are grateful for the overwhelming support and kindness shown by fans, friends, and the entire community. Please continue to keep Ronnie in your thoughts and prayers. Updates will be shared as they become available through official channels’.
