Dr. Michaela Peramaki, a self-proclaimed “lifetime natural” bodybuilding coach and women’s physique competitor, has been taking a WADA banned supplement throughout her competitive career without realizing the implications, according to recent blood work analysis.
The fitness coach Greg Doucette conducted an extensive investigation into Peramaki’s natural status after receiving numerous requests from viewers. Unlike many influencers who avoid scrutiny, Peramaki willingly provided multiple sets of blood work for analysis, both before and after her competition preparation.
The results revealed an unusual paradox. Despite being in contest-ready condition with extremely low body fat, no menstrual cycle, and estradiol levels at just 22 (considered pathologically low), Peramaki maintained testosterone levels at 5.8 free testosterone and 44 total testosterone, nearly maxing out the optimal reference ranges at 6.4 and 45 respectively.
According to Doucette’s analysis, these numbers don’t align with typical physiology for someone in her condition.
“When estradiol is low, testosterone is almost always also low. They’re low in conjunction,” he explained. For a woman experiencing amenorrhea due to extreme dieting, having optimal testosterone levels is “super physiological” and doesn’t make sense naturally.
The most likely explanation? DHEA supplementation. Dehydroepiandrosterone is an adrenal hormone that converts to testosterone at higher rates in women than men. While not a traditional steroid like Anavar or SARMs, DHEA is banned by WADA and various drug-tested sports organizations precisely because it works.
“DHEA can lower SHBG by approximately 50%,” Doucette noted. Lower s3x hormone-binding globulin means more free testosterone available for muscle building. The supplement provides significant advantages for female athletes while avoiding many negative markers associated with traditional performance enhancers.
Peramaki’s blood work showed none of the typical red flags associated with steroid or SARM use. Her cholesterol panels remained perfect, liver enzymes were normal, and there were no signs of growth hormone or insulin abuse. This pattern is consistent with DHEA supplementation rather than traditional PEDs.
The situation mirrors previous cases in combat sports. UFC athletes Bobby Green, Khalil Rountree, and Ashlee Evans-Smith all received suspensions for DHEA use, highlighting how athletes may unknowingly cross into banned PED territory with supplements they consider benign.
Whether DHEA disqualifies someone from “lifetime natural” status remains debatable. While banned by WADA, it’s not a synthetic anabolic ster**d. Doucette classified Peramaki as “half natty,” acknowledging the grey area this supplement occupies in the fitness industry.
