Embracing the Evolution of Bodybuilding and IPEDs in Fitness Culture

The story of doping in sports is a tale of modernity's ever-changing relationship with the human body. Since the mid-1800s, sports have undergone significant modernization, driven by ideas surrounding performance enhancement. This journey into modernity has also witnessed the rise of Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs). Back in the 1930s, various drugs were employed to combat fatigue and enhance athletic performance, without much judgment. In fact, the use of steroids dates as far back as the 1950s, particularly among American bodybuilders. As gym culture gained momentum in the 1970s, spearheaded by icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger, IPEDs became an integral part of the equation. However, this perspective was about to undergo a transformation.

In this article, we delve into the historical development of gym and fitness culture, focusing on the intriguing journey of IPEDs within this context. Previously, we explored the early years of gym and fitness (1900-1960) and the developments on the American west coast in the 1970s and 80s. Here, our attention shifts to the 1990s, a time when bodybuilding faced marginalization within the fitness culture, giving rise to what we now refer to as the fitness revolution. We'll then trace this evolution up to the present day.

The 1990s Crisis in Bodybuilding

The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a turning point for bodybuilding, as its reputation took a hit. Klein's groundbreaking study (1993) shed light on the changing perception of competitive bodybuilders on the American west coast. This transformation extended beyond public opinion, reshaping subcultural notions of self in the realm of bodybuilding. The bodybuilders of the 1980s, portrayed as nutrition and kinesiology experts, occupied a prominent position in a burgeoning culture defined by vanity, muscularity, vitality, sexuality, control, health, and physical prowess. Despite their endorsement of a healthy lifestyle, which included the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), IPEDs started to attract negative attention. Psychiatrists began encountering a new category of patients consumed by body image and muscularity concerns.

This scrutiny coincided with the publication of Sam Fussell's "Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Bodybuilder" in 1991. Fussell's account catalyzed a critique of traditional American masculinity. The muscle-building practices involving steroids were perceived as compensating for a fragile and insecure masculinity. Consequently, bodybuilding's ethos and culture underwent a thorough examination. These changes unfolded concurrently with the growing presence of women in bodybuilding, thrusting health and the side effects of IPED use into the spotlight.

The Fitness Revolution

Simultaneously, another fitness phenomenon was taking shape. Kenneth Cooper's book, "Aerobics," published in 1968, ignited the fitness trend within commercial gyms. This concept aimed to combat psychosomatic diseases in American society, eventually becoming associated with Jane Fonda's popular workout routines. Fonda's fitness empire flourished, attracting urban middle-class women in their 20s and 30s. In the 1980s, men's bodybuilding and women's fitness evolved separately. Men focused on building muscles and achieving ripped physiques, while women pursued a slim and graceful appearance. However, the 1990s brought about a convergence of these distinct training approaches. Muscle-building rooms neighbored group fitness areas, fostering coexistence and diversity in workout techniques. The lean and muscular physique emerged as an ideal for both genders.

As the late 1990s arrived and transitioned into the 21st century, the fitness industry witnessed a surge in franchises and a growing interest in fitness among the general population. This marked a fourth phase in the historical development of gym culture and fitness doping. Bodybuilding subculture began to distance itself from the broader fitness trend, transforming into a more exclusive niche. The gym ceased to be a place for everyone, with fitness now associated with health and lifestyle choices. This shift allowed fitness culture to evolve into a highly personalized and individualized concept.

The Evolution of Women's Bodybuilding

The evolving landscape of women's bodybuilding saw significant changes at the turn of the century. The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) introduced the Women's Fitness discipline in 1996, emphasizing a less muscular and more aesthetically pleasing physique. This shift reflected a move towards traditional gender ideals. Additionally, the disciplines of Women's Body-Fitness and Women's Bikini Fitness were introduced, further marginalizing traditional women's bodybuilding.

This shift should be viewed as an effort by organizers and key stakeholders within bodybuilding to align the sport with more conventional gender norms. As women bodybuilders in the 1990s displayed increasingly muscular physiques, concerns about the effects of doping grew. These concerns paralleled efforts to combat the stigma of doping within bodybuilding and fitness circles, emphasizing the importance of health in the process.

A Globalized (Virtual) Drug Market

The market for Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) expanded from elite sports and men's bodybuilding to encompass women bodybuilders, non-elite athletes, and even regular gym enthusiasts in recent years. This diversification of potential users coincided with the mainstreaming of fitness culture. Online communication platforms played a pivotal role in discussing, disseminating knowledge about, and procuring IPEDs.

The IPED market evolved similarly to gym and fitness culture. In the 1980s and 90s, it had a more social and less commercial orientation, with experienced users mentoring newcomers, supplying substances, and providing guidance on usage. However, encounters with law enforcement in some countries have discouraged such sociability. Consequently, an emerging online market and drug community have flourished since the early 21st century. This shift poses challenges to national anti-doping policies and law enforcement but provides essential social support and harm reduction guidance for some IPED users.

Conclusion

In the late 1980s and 90s, bodybuilding and its associated lifestyle came under intense scrutiny. To preserve and evolve gym and fitness culture, attempts were made to distance fitness from bodybuilding and, specifically, from IPED use. This period marked a civilizing process, where gym and fitness culture underwent a significant transformation. This transformation brought about a new era, significantly different from the subcultural bodybuilding of the 1970s. The fitness revolution of the 1990s saw gym culture transform into a burgeoning fitness enterprise, while bodybuilding and IPEDs were partially marginalized.

Today, we may be witnessing the start of a new phase in this historical narrative. Critical discussions about the effectiveness of drug control systems and the development of holistic approaches to drug use in sports are becoming more prevalent. There are also debates about the stigmatization of substances and the quest to develop safer IPEDs, raising important questions about the role of these substances in fitness, sports, and society.