There’s no doubt that Mal O’Brien has achieved some great success competing in the CrossFit games at such a young age. And that kind of success always draws attention from people who immediately say it’s all down to steroids.
While PED use is widespread in the bodybuilding and fitness industry, I find that making such claims without any substantial research is unfair to the girl.
That’s why I’ve spent the last few days going through her social media accounts to see if there’s any truth to the claims that her physique isn’t natural.
Here’s what I found.
Does Mal O’Brien Take Steroids?
There’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that Mal O’Brien has taken steroids. She has never admitted to taking steroids but has also never revealed her natty status.
Having researched her physique in depth, I’ve identified a few features of her physique which imply that she is indeed natural.
Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
Reasons Why Mal O’Brien Looks Natty
Lack of Facial Hair
One of the most common problems women experience with PEDs is that they start growing facial hair, like a man.
Looking through Mal O’Brien’s Instagram, it’s clear to see that she doesn’t have any facial hair.
That being said, you could argue that if she did, she’d simply shave it off.
Normal Voice Tone
Another common problem female steroid users encounter is a deep, masculine voice.
In fact, some female steroid users have to go through surgery to increase the pitch of their voice.
Having listened to many of Mal O’Brien’s interviews, it’s clear that she has a normal, feminine voice tone and that she doesn’t experience this side effect.
This suggests that she’s natural and hasn’t taken anabolic steroids.
Lack of HGH Gut
Many steroid users include 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.
Looking at many different photos of Mal O’Brien over the years, there’s no evidence that she suffers from HGH gut which suggests that she doesn’t take steroids.
Proportional Shoulders
Oversized shoulders are another common sign of PED use. This is because the deltoids and traps in the upper back have a large number of androgen receptors.
As a result, you often see steroid users with shoulders which are out-of-proportion, and Mal O’Brien’s shoulders seem to be proportional to the rest of her body.
Minimal Vascularity
Most bodybuilders – male and female – desire those popping veins. They’re a good indicator of how much muscle and little fat you have.
But certain types of steroids will produce those vascular veins even if you’re not working out.
Looking at Mal O’Brien’s Instagram profile, you can see that she only has veins popping out her biceps and forearms, suggesting that she’s natty.
Reasonable Body Fat Levels
One of the easiest ways to catch out a fake natty is to see how their body fat levels change when they bulk.
No matter how gifted your genetics are and how much you train, bulking up whilst maintaining a sub 12% body fat as a female if nearly impossible.
The fact that Mal O’Brien appears to be around 15% body fat after a bulk suggests that she doesn’t use steroids.
She would be much leaner if she did.
Is It Possible To Bulk Up Like Mal O’Brien Naturally?
I believe that it’s possible to naturally achieve a physique like hers.
While it’ll take a lot of time, dedication, and patience, it’s surely achievable.
It’s clear that Mal O’Brien has good genetics and trains consistently, so with the help of natural supplements, there’s no reason why she couldn’t have achieved her physique without steroid use.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Mal O’Brien has never admitted to taking steroids.
- Looking at all the available evidence, I believe that she’s natty.
- Mal O’Brien hasn’t posted any drug test results, so there’s no definitive way to prove that she’s natural.
That’s all for Mal O’Brien, but does Nick Bare take steroids? Or does Dylan McKnight take steroids?
Thanks for reading!
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10664066/
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.