DRUG SHOCK
BBC ‘in crisis mode’ after Gladiators’ Giant admits taking steroids in unearthed clips as insiders say ‘it’s disastrous’
The 6ft 5in Giant, real name Jamie Christian-Johal, boasted of 'phenomenal gains'
THE BBC have been plunged into "crisis mode" after Gladiators' Giant admitted to taking steroids in past clips.
The 6ft 5in Giant, real name Jamie Christian-Johal, boasted of “phenomenal gains” to followers on social media.
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Videos — including one titled “Take this and you will get big” — show the ex-fireman talking about the muscle-boosting Class C drugs which can lead to heart attacks, kidney failure and psychiatric trauma.
And, in a Facebook post, he tells how he was 200lb in 2009 but now expected to hit 310lb.
BBC bosses were left stunned and entered crisis mode after The Sun alerted them to the videos, which were still available on January 18.
TV insiders are said to have blasted the revelation as a "disastrous look" having a Gladiator claiming steroids are fine.
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One source said: “This is a nightmare for the BBC.
“It’s a family show and they’ve somehow not spotted this material from its biggest star.
“Fans could find his advice for taking steroids with just a simple Google search of his name.”
Gladiators stars were said to have taken frequent drug tests and been quizzed about their use of performance enhancing drugs before being signed up — but somehow Giant’s videos were missed.
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In one YouTube clip the married father from Derbyshire declares: “I didn’t start taking steroids until I was 24 years old.”
Giant, 37, told The Sun he had come off them late in 2022.
He said: “I have always been open and transparent about my use of steroids whilst I was a professional bodybuilder.
“During that time, I spoke openly about the legal use of performance enhancements as a competitive bodybuilder and how to safely administer them.
“I stopped competing as a bodybuilder in October 2022 and responsibly came off steroids.
“I am no longer a professional bodybuilder and am no longer taking steroids and do not advocate the use of them.”
The show attracted 6.4million viewers for last Saturday’s launch.
But parents of young fans will be particularly concerned by the steroid revelations.
Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs that can only be issued by pharmacists with a prescription.
They are legal to use but illegal to sell, even to friends.
The penalty is an unlimited fine, or jail term of up to 14 years.
Side-effects of anabolic steroids can include reduced sperm count, infertility, shrunken testicles, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, breast development and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
In the “Take this and you will get big” video, Giant discusses how steroid abuse is rife in competitive bodybuilding.
Sitting next to an amateur bodybuilder, he says: “I already had eight years training under my belt and I had already competed twice. And I got some phenomenal gains off that.”
But he does say training, nutrition and lifestyle play a bigger role.
He adds: “I know a lot of guys taking a lot of drugs and they are small and out of shape.”
Viewers have included a 16-year-old student who commented: “Very good educational discussions video.”
Giant also appears at least twice on the “steroid guide” section of bodybuilding training website, trainedbyjp.com
And he discusses taking them on his Facebook page, where he has 9,500 followers.
In a post from March 2022, he wrote: “In 2009, I was 200lbs on stage, fast forward to 2022 some 13 years later I’m predicting a stage weight of 310 some 110lbs of muscle later.
“For many years I’d accumulate 10lbs of extra stage weight a year, something that is considered near impossible.”
Among the new Gladiators, “Bionic” Matty Campbell is a bodybuilder “Viper” Quang Thanh Luong is a bodybuilder and actor.
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“Legend” Matt Morsia took an online drugs test and insists he has always been clean.
Zack George, who stars as Steel, is a cross-fit social media star, “Phantom” Toby Olubi was a Team GB bobsleigher, “Nitro” Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was a sprinter and “Apollo” Alex Gray is a former rugby player.
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