I just emailed Mr. Kono regarding drug use in the iron game in the 1950s. I keep telling guys that steroid uses was unheard of in the US in the 1950s and guys
like Marvin Eder, Reg Park, Steve Reeves, John Grimek and Tommy Kono built their strength and physiques with non-drug supplements, hard work and good
nutrition. What follows is my email to him and his response.
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Mr. Kono,
I hope this finds you in good health and spirits. I wanted to ask you a question but also tell you about a good deal I found on bumper plates. 4x45s and 2x25s ( not in kilos unfortunately) for $230 here in the islands. Not too shabby huh? It will do me for now I reckon.
Anyway. I have been reading about some of the oldtime bodybuilders such as Reg Park, Marvin Eder and even some of the old York Lifters like Bill March using steroids. Now from what I understand, Dr.Ziegler went and saw Soviet lifters using a type of steroid back in 1956 or so and then came back and "invented" Dianabol". How many of the great bodybuilders and Olympic lifters used back in those days? I know that York eventually started experimenting with D-bol for the US Team in the early 60s but I am more concerned about the prevalence in the 50s.
Talk to you soon,
Dave Wright
David,
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Mr. Kono,
I hope this finds you in good health and spirits. I wanted to ask you a question but also tell you about a good deal I found on bumper plates. 4x45s and 2x25s ( not in kilos unfortunately) for $230 here in the islands. Not too shabby huh? It will do me for now I reckon.
Anyway. I have been reading about some of the oldtime bodybuilders such as Reg Park, Marvin Eder and even some of the old York Lifters like Bill March using steroids. Now from what I understand, Dr.Ziegler went and saw Soviet lifters using a type of steroid back in 1956 or so and then came back and "invented" Dianabol". How many of the great bodybuilders and Olympic lifters used back in those days? I know that York eventually started experimenting with D-bol for the US Team in the early 60s but I am more concerned about the prevalence in the 50s.
Talk to you soon,
Dave Wright
David,
Dr. Ziegler started it all in the fall of 1960 with Bill March and Louis Riecke on Dianabol. Prior to that no one in the U.S. knew anything about steroids
and its use. March and Riecke were actually being experimented by Ziegler. Riecke and I had some battles in the lightheavyweight class during the 1961,
1962 and 1963 Sr. National Championships but I managed to come out on top each time no matter what he took. I had won and broke all my records before
Steroids were ever "discovered."
Steroid use got started in 1960 and it spread from lifting to bodybuilding then to the field event guys in track and football players. Ziegler claimed all
kinds of things but this guy really was a kook. Ziegler actually accompanied the U.S. Team to the 1954 World Championships and was trying to have us pass
him off as our new heavyweight. With his skinny legs I knew the Russians couldn't be fooled. He wore cowboy boots and cowboy hat and wanted some
recognition. I believe John Fair did a booklet article on steroid use in the U.S. Bottom line is that in the 1950's there were no such thing as
anabolic steroids known or used in the U.S.
Tommy
