Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
* the side effects of being American.
DVD is out now, here's the trailer linky:
http://www.biggerstrongerfastermovie.com/
I saw this last weekend, and I was surprised. It's a documentary from the perspective of an amateur power lifter and his two brothers, all of whom have done anabolic steroids at one time or another. I was expecting some kind of cheap expose on how some athletes dope, but they provided a very balanced discussion about doping and sports, although only focusing on anabolic steroids (testosterone).
One aspect that is was well presented was the myths of steroids, and the facts about many sports using steroids for decades with little side effects.
The other aspect that was well presented was the ridiculous sports supplements industry, and how easy it is to take $1 of powders and sell them for $40 with the right label (FRS, looking at you).
Interviews with Floyd Landis, who, shockingly, denied he ever took steroids but did show the interviewer the home-made barometric chamber he sleeps in made out of construction pipe.
They look at the culture of juicing in high school sports. Basically, It's accurate as I remember it in high school, most guys juiced. They show it as quite prevalent in some areas of the US, and focus on a little town in Texas and a baseball player kid who committed suicide while on steroids (but also on many other anti-depressants). Town's called Plano. Apparently, there is a strong culture of doping at the high school level there.
They also show the incredible hypocrisy of politicians passing anabolic steroid control laws- like Arnold Schwarzenegger, yet not regulating internet sales.
Really good interviews with guys from Muscle Mag industry about the safety of steroids, the misconceptions, and this is backed up with interviews with specialist doctors.
Nice film, makes you reconsider the morality of doping in sport, the prevalence of doping in sport, and the reasons why people dope, without doing any preaching.