Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Brazilian bodybuilder Romario Dos Santos Alves became addicted to a lethal cocktail of oil and alcohol injections, called synthol, which he used to pump up his muscles to a point where doctors wanted to amputate both of his arms and he attempted suicide.

Three years ago, at the age of 22, Romario began using the drug concoction to fill out his muscles, modeling himself around The Incredible Hulk. He began using it upon recommendation of some of his friends from the gym, but became addicted.

“If you take it once there will definitely be a second time – it’s addictive” he said in comments carried by the UK’s Daily Mail.

When his biceps became an incredible 63 centimeters, his addiction got to a place where it was life threatening. He became severely depressed by the reactions he was getting from people around him and attempted suicide when his wife was six months pregnant. He was hospitalized prior to the birth of his son for his depression.

The oil and alcohol mixture caused a buildup of rocks inside his muscles, and it became harder for him to inject himself.

“I decided the only thing I could do was but specialist needles to inject. The kind of needles used on bulls – there are no stronger needles around”.

The reactions from people around him varied from that of praise for his physique to children fearing him.

“One time I was working in a catholic church and a woman came up to me and said that her 12-year-old daughter wouldn’t come in because she was afraid of me. She said that she thought I was a beast, a monster – I just put my head down and didn’t say anything”.

Eventually he found himself in constant pain and he had to consult doctors who initially wanted to amputate both of his arms.

“I remember the doctor told me that they would need to amputate both arms. They said everything in there, all my muscles, were rock.” Instead of amputating, the doctors managed to remove the synthol rocks”

On top of the health issues with his muscles, the toxins in the oil almost led to kidney failure.

“I want other people to see the dangers, I could have died all because I wanted bigger muscles. It’s just not worth it,” he said, continuing to say that he still wants to become bodybuilder but that he wants to avoid all enhancing substances to get there.


*Al Arabiya