If you’re 6‘1“ weigh 233 lbs and are ripped AF, then there’ll be plenty of people speculating that you’re not natty.
In this case, I’m talking about the Eric Bugenhagen (Rick Boogs) steroid rumours that have been circulating online.
While anabolic steroid use is widespread in the wrestling industry, I find that making such claims without any substantial research is unfair to the guy.
So, I spent a few weeks researching his background and social media accounts to see if there’s any truth to these rumours.
Does Eric Bugenhagen Take Steroids?
There’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that Eric Bugenhagen currently takes steroids. He claims to be natty, and in 2018, he posted a video to his YouTube channel showing a recent drug test which he passed.
Having analyzed Eric’s physique in-depth, I’ve found many features which support his natural claims, but a couple which may hint at some PED use.
Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
Reasons Which May Suggest Eric Bugenhagen Is Natty
No Evidence of Acne
In developing teenagers, acne is often caused by fluctuating hormones, like testosterone. And the same thing can happen to people who take anabolic steroids.
With steroid use, the skin change is quite sudden and noticeable and not easily hidden, especially if you’re a famous wrestler who’s on camera a lot of the time.
It doesn’t look like Eric Bugenhagen suffers from skin problems, suggesting that he could be natural.
He’s Regularly Drug Tested
In his ‘Fake Natty’ video, Eric revealed that he does random drug tests every single month.
You’d think that if he did take PEDs, then he would’ve been caught by now. But that isn’t the case.
Eric Bugenhagen has yet to fail a drug test, which is another reason why he could be natural.
Minimal Vascularity
Popping veins are a solid indicator of how much muscle and how little fat you have.
But certain types of steroids will produce those vascular veins even if you’re not working out.
Looking at Eric’s Instagram profile, you can see that he doesn’t really have any veins popping out his muscles except from his biceps.
No Sign of Hair Loss
One of the most common problems with PEDs is that they may increase facial hair while decreasing head hair. Many steroid users hide this with a tightly cut hairstyle.
Looking through Eric’s Instagram, it’s clear to see that his head hair is still well intact and there’s no signs of baldness/hair loss, which may imply that he’s natty.
Natural Shaped Pectorals
Ironically, PEDs which boost testosterone and growth hormone have also been linked to men developing enlarged breast tissue.
It’s important to point out that enlarged breast tissue and ripped pecs aren’t the same thing – here, we’re talking about soft breast tissue in the form of fat.
While Eric has large pecs, there’s no evidence that he suffers from gyno or enlarged breast tissue.
Reasons People Believe Eric Bugenhagen Takes Steroids
HGH Gut
Many bodybuilders take human growth hormone (HGH) as part of their steroid cycle.
One of the side effects of this is that organs can swell up, and that pushes out the so-called HGH gut.
There have been some photos of Eric where he seems to show this effect.
Oversized Shoulders
Oversized shoulders are one of the most common signs of steroid use. The deltoids and traps in the upper back have a large number of androgen receptors.
As a result, you often see shoulders and traps that are out-of-proportion, and that’s something Eric seems to have.
Is It Possible To Bulk Up Like Eric Bugenhagen Naturally?
To bulk up like Eric Bugenhagen naturally would require some great genetics and a lot of patience and dedication.
Eric eats up to 6,000 calories day, which is a huge challenge for the average person, and he’s been training consistently for over 20 years.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Eric Bugenhagen claims to be natty and posted the results of a drug test to verify his claim.
- Having analyzed his physique in depth, I believe that he is indeed natty.
That’s all for Eric Bugenhagen, but is Aaron Donald natural? Or does Shannon Sharpe take steroids?
Thanks for reading!
Sources
https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Eric_Bugenhagen
I’ve been in the fitness and strength training industry for nearly a decade. In that time, I’ve gained 30 pounds of muscle, written hundreds of articles, and reviewed dozens of fitness supplements. As for my educational background, I’m a currently studying for my Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training.