Turinabol

Turinabol, or Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, is perceived in the bodybuilding world as a mild yet effective anabolic steroid, often likened to Dianabol in structure but with a profile more similar to Anavar in terms of its mild nature and lower risk of side effects. Unlike Dianabol, known for significant water retention and estrogenic effects, Turinabol is favored for providing steady, quality muscle gains with minimal bloating since it does not aromatize into estrogen, drawing a parallel with Anavar’s reputation for lean muscle development. While it doesn’t match the sheer bulking power of Dianabol or the potent strength enhancement of Anadrol, Turinabol is appreciated for its balance between efficacy and safety, offering a middle ground with fewer risks of liver toxicity compared to other oral steroids. Its ability to enhance muscle definition and strength without the significant bulk or harsh side effects associated with Anadrol makes it a preferred choice for bodybuilders seeking a sculpted physique. Turinabol’s appeal lies in its capacity to promote lean gains and performance enhancements, making it a go-to for those targeting a more defined look, similar to Anavar, but with a strength and muscle-building edge closer to Dianabol, albeit less dramatic.


History of Turinabol

Turinabol, chemically known as Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, has a unique and notable history in the world of performance-enhancing drugs. It was developed in the 1960s in East Germany by Jenapharm, a pharmaceutical company. Turinabol was synthesized as a derivative of Dianabol (Methandrostenolone), a potent anabolic steroid, with the goal of obtaining a compound that retained the anabolic properties while reducing androgenic effects. The intention behind its development was to create a means to enhance the athletic performance of East German athletes, fitting into the state-sponsored doping program known as “State Plan 14.25.” The program was a closely guarded secret, designed to ensure internacional sporting success for East German athletes.

The use of Turinabol became widespread among East German athletes, spanning a variety of sports, including track and field, swimming, and weightlifting. It was particularly favored due to its ability to improve strength and lean muscle mass without causing significant weight gain or water retention, which could be a disadvantage in many sports disciplines. The steroid was administered, often without informed consent, to thousands of athletes, including minors, under the guise of “vitamin supplements” or other benign medications. This systemic doping helped East Germany, a relatively small country, become a dominant force in international competitions, including the Olympics.

The truth about Turinabol and the extent of the East German doping program only came to light after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Documents and other evidence were uncovered, revealing the scale and nature of the doping practices. Many former athletes subsequently suffered from various health problems attributed to their unwitting use of substances like Turinabol. The revelation of the program and its impact on athletes’ health contributed to the global understanding of the risks associated with steroid use and led to stricter anti-doping policies worldwide. Despite its controversial history, Turinabol remains a subject of interest in the field of performance enhancement due to its unique properties and significant role in sports history.


Usage in Bodybuilding: Turinabol is valued for its distinct properties that suit specific fitness goals. Here’s an overview of its usage:


Anabolic Characteristics: Turinabol is an anabolic steroid known for its ability to enhance muscle mass and strength. It is appreciated for providing lean muscle gains without significant water retention, making it a preferred choice for bodybuilders seeking a more defined look.

Cutting Cycles: Turinabol is often used in cutting cycles for its ability to help maintain muscle mass while reducing body fat. It’s known for promoting lean muscle growth.

Pre-Competition Use: Turinabol is sometimes used in the weeks leading up to competitions due to its ability to provide a more defined, lean physique without the risk of excessive water retention.

Cycle Duration: Typical use involves cycles ranging from 6 to 8 weeks. This timeframe allows bodybuilders to optimize the benefits of Turinabol while minimizing potential adverse effects.


In summary, Turinabol’s usage in bodybuilding is characterized by its role in lean muscle development, its inclusion in various steroid stacks, and its application in both cutting and pre-competition cycles. The specific dosages and cycle lengths vary, with a general emphasis on achieving optimal physical enhancement while managing the risk of side effects.


Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Dosing of Turinabol

Medical dosing guidelines for Turinabol are not widely available, as its primary use historically was within the sports and bodybuilding context, particularly in the former East German doping program.

Beginner Users

  • Beginners are advised to start with lower doses, typically around 10mg to 30mg per day.
  • A conservative approach allows beginners to assess their body’s reaction and tolerance to the compound.

Intermediate Users

  • Intermediate users may consume up to 40mg to 60mg daily, depending on their experience and tolerance levels.
  • If Turinabol is used with testosterone and excluding other steroids, a daily dosage of up to 60mg may be suitable, with careful monitoring.

Female Users

  • Historically, it was used in the East German sports doping program, where it was administered to athletes, including women, without their informed consent.
  • Female dosage is typically much lower than that for men and might range from 2.5 to 10 mg per day.
  • It’s crucial to note that individual reactions to steroids can vary, and even at low doses, there is still a risk of virilization and other side effects.
  • Considered a relatively mild steroid compared to others, making it an option that some female athletes choose to use.
  • Like all anabolic steroids, Turinabol carries the risk of virilization in women.
  • The development of masculine characteristics such as deepened voice, increased body hair, and changes in reproductive and sexual function.


Advanced Users

  • Advanced users who tolerate lower doses well may increase the dose up to 80mg per day, considered the maximum dose where benefits outweigh the risks.
  • Higher doses increase the risk of liver damage and androgenic side effects, so adjustments should be made based on individual tolerance.


Stacking Turinabol with Other Steroids:

  • Turinabol can be stacked with other anabolic steroids like testosterone, Deca-Durabolin, or Trenbolone for synergistic effects.
  • When stacking, users should adjust the Turinabol dosage based on their personal tolerance and the specific compounds involved in the stack.
  • It may be combined with SARMs or Peptides for purely performance enhancement purposes, without changes in body weight.


Turinabol Side-Effects

Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, like all anabolic steroids, carries a range of potential side effects. Some of these side effects are common to anabolic steroids in general, while others may be more specific or pronounced with Turinabol due to its unique chemical structure:

Liver Toxicity: Turinabol is a 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid, which makes it hepatoxic. Use N2Guard with this product always!

Cardiovascular Risks: Like many steroids, Turinabol can negatively impact cardiovascular health. It can lead to increased blood pressure and changes in cholesterol levels, specifically increasing LDL (bad cholesterol) and decreasing HDL (good cholesterol).

Suppression of Natural Testosterone Production: Turinabol, like other anabolic steroids, suppresses natural testosterone production in the body. This can lead to a range of side effects such as testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count, infertility, and decreased libido.

Androgenic Side Effects: Although Turinabol is designed to have a lower androgenic activity, androgenic side effects can still occur, especially at higher doses. These include acne, accelerated hair loss in those predisposed to male pattern baldness, and body hair growth. Turinabol is more androgenic than Anavar by comparison but less androgenic than something like testosterone.

Masculinization in Women (Virilization): In female users, Turinabol can lead to virilization, or the development of male characteristics, such as a deeper voice, increased body hair, and changes in facial structure.

Negative Impact on Lipid Profile: Turinabol can have adetrimental effect on the lipid profile, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis. It may decrease HDL cholesterol levels and increase LDL cholesterol levels.

Psychological Effects: Like other steroids, the use of Turinabol can lead to mood swings, aggression, or ‘roid rage,’ although this is highly individual.


Sports and Media Scandals

Turinabol is one of the most detected drugs in doping tests at the Olympics. It has been identified in 65 individual tests and in combination with other substances in an additional 35 tests. These detections have led to the loss of 54 Olympic medals across various sports, including 8 gold, 24 silver, and 22 bronze medals.

This significant presence of Turinabol in doping cases at such a high level of competitive sports underlines its prominence in the history of performance-enhancing drug use. The loss of medals on this scale indicates the drug’s widespread use and the stringent measures taken against athletes found using it.

This record highlights Turinabol’s significant impact on the world of sports, marking it as one of the most detected substances in doping violations at such a high-profile and competitive level.

Here is a list of notable sports doping scandals featuring Turinabol:

East German Doping Program: Turinabol was a key steroid used in the systematic doping of approximately ten thousand East German athletes as part of a secret program known as “State Plan Topic 14.25.” This program, which was in place from about 1968 until the collapse of the German Democratic Republic in 1989, involved administering Turinabol to athletes, often without their knowledge. The scope of this operation was extensive, resulting in numerous medal wins and worldrecord performances.

Reanalysis of Olympic Samples: The International Olympic Committee, following allegations of widespread doping, reanalyzed samples from the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games using a spectrometric method developed in 2011 for detecting long-lasting metabolites of Turinabol. Weightlifters and sprinters, particularly from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, were found to have used Turinabol.

Artur Taymazov: A prominent case involved Artur Taymazov, an Ossetian-Uzbek-Russian freestyle wrestler and the most decorated Olympic athlete in Uzbekistan’s history. He was found to have metabolites of Oral Turinabol in his urine during the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. Following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) retesting program, Taymazov was stripped of his two Olympic gold medals. This disqualification was retroactively applied to both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) retesting program, Taymazov was stripped of his two Olympic gold medals. This disqualification was retroactively applied to both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, where he had won gold medals in the 120-kilogram men’s freestyle wrestling competitions.

Taymazov’s dominance in freestyle wrestling for over a decade, particularly in the 2000s and early 2010s, was overshadowed by these revelations. He had previously won gold medals at three consecutive Olympic Summer Games – Athens, Beijing, and London, a feat now tainted by the doping scandal.

Jon Jones, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion: In August 2017, Jon Jones tested positive for Turinabol following his victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. This positive test led to significant repercussions in his professional career.

Colton Welker, Colorado Rockies Third Baseman: Colton Welker tested positive for Turinabol in May 2021 while playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. As a result, he faced an eighty-game suspension.

Yelena Slesurenko: A high jumper who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Slesurenko was later banned for four years from October 2016. Her samples from the Beijing Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu 2011 tested positive for Turinabol. Consequently, she was disqualified from the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and her results from August 2008 to August 2012 were annulled.

Yekaterina Volkova: A steeplechase athlete, Volkova was disqualified for two years starting in December 2016. Her bronze medal from the Beijing 2008 Olympics was stripped after her samples retested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (Turinabol).

Ksenia Agafonova: Following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2018, athlete Ksenia Agafonova was disqualified for two years starting from September 2017. The retesting of samples from the Berlin World Cup in Athletics in 2009 revealed the presence of Turinabol.

Elizabeth Grechishnikova: A distance runner, Grechishnikova was disqualified for two years from May 2017. The specific details of her disqualification related to Turinabol use were not detailed in the RusAF statement.


“Although Tbol and Dbol are almost the same thing, the difference is that there is an added 4chloro alteration with Tbol, which differentiate the two steroids. Turinabol has a zero (0) androgenic rating and a mild 53 anabolic ranking. This means there is zero androgenic or estrogenic activity with tbol (no aromatization will take place); therefore”

-Albert Wolfgang