A young powerlifting champion’s dramatic transformation from natural athlete to PED user has sparked concern in the fitness community. At just 21 years old, this bodybuilder now relies on a CPAP machine to sleep, a medical device typically associated with much older individuals suffering from sleep apnea.
Greg Doucette, a veteran fitness coach, recently examined the case of this young athlete in a recent YouTube video. He competed as a natural powerlifter at 18 years old. In 2022, the teenager was bench pressing 335 lbs (152 kg) in PED-tested competitions at Worlds, competing in the 180-plus pound division. He was one of only three people in IPF history to bench press 200-plus kg at 19 years of age in the 93 kg weight class.
“He’s one of the strongest men in the world,” Doucette noted, questioning why someone with such exceptional natural genetics would turn to PED so early in their athletic career.
The transformation timeline reveals alarming changes. At 14, the athlete weighed 143 lbs (65 kg). By 16, he had reached 187 lbs (84 kg) while still appearing natural. However, at 20 years old, he had bulked up to approximately 235 lbs (106 kg), gaining roughly 30 lbs of muscle in a single year. This is despite the law of diminishing returns that typically slows muscle growth as athletes age and gain experience.
The most concerning aspect of this story isn’t just the early PED use—it’s the visible health consequences. Multiple social media posts show the young bodybuilder wearing a CPAP machine, a device used to treat sleep apnea by maintaining proper breathing during sleep. When followers asked about his life expectancy, he reportedly responded with “Wednesday,” treating serious health concerns as a joke.
“When you go and get your blood work and at 21 the doctor says you have high blood pressure, your cholesterol markers are bad, your kidneys are in trouble, your liver is compromised, and you need to wear a CPAP machine, that doesn’t mean you care about your health just because you wear the CPAP. It means you’re continuing down a dangerous path,” Doucette explained.
The young athlete’s social media presence prominently features the CPAP machine, with multiple videos showing him wearing it. He also posted comparison photos labeled “18-year-old natural versus 20-year-old enhanced,” at least acknowledging his PED use rather than claiming to be natural.
Doucette emphasized that bodybuilding itself carries health risks, and if someone chooses that path, they should mitigate dangers through regular blood work and monitoring. However, he argued that true health consciousness would mean staying natural, especially when already possessing world-class genetics.
“Imagine his parents are so proud. Their son has been training hard since 14, competing at Worlds, one of the strongest men in the world for his age,” Doucette said. “Then you decide to go on s***oids as a teenager. What are they supposed to think?”
The 21-year-old continues his journey toward an IFBB pro card, sleeping with a CPAP machine each night.
