Dennis Wolf wants to help the next generation of bodybuilders find success onstage. 1. On Jan. 15, 2026, he emphasized that bodybuilding is not a healthy sport, prompting him to explain how to safely manage performance-enhancing drug use (PEDs).
Dennis Wolf was a top Men’s Open contender. Though he never laid claim to the Mr. Olympia title, he gave champions fits onstage, including Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Dexter Jackson. The biggest win of his career came at the 2014 Arnold Classic, where he bested runner-up Shawn Rhoden and bronze finisher Cedric McMillan.
Wolf no longer competes actively, but his fitness hasn’t taken a backseat. Year-round, he boasts a ripped six-pack and impressive conditioning. Longevity in bodybuilding is hard to come by, so he broke down how to navigate some of the sport’s greatest challenges.
Dennis Wolf Talks Balancing PEDs in Bodybuilding, Says It’s ‘Not a Healthy Sport’
In the video, Wolf stressed that career longevity depends on how athletes treat their bodies. He said that those who overuse PEDs are less likely to have a long career.
“It all happens depending on how you treat yourself.
If you are going nuts and overdosing with special supplements, you are probably not going to have a long career. You need to start slow. Most importantly, thinking about information. You need to try to get as much information as you can.”
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Unlike his era, social media and YouTube make it easier to learn about the risks associated with PED use.
“Today, it’s probably easier than doing it 30 years ago. Now, we have too much information around, social media, YouTube, and so on, but you have to filter it. If you filter the information and take out the right information, that’s going to be a big plus for you.”
“Also, if you want to go all the way to the Pro League, you need to focus only on bodybuilding. If you do anything else besides bodybuilding, it’s going to take longer for you to get there where you want to be,” he said.
Wolf shared that it’s important to set goals as an aspiring bodybuilder. If the goal is to reach the IFBB Pro league, he believes finding a coach, winning shows, and focusing on food and supplementation are paramount for success.
“Set your goals. If your goal is professional bodybuilder, you need to start winning shows and focusing on training, food, supplementation, and finding a perfect coach. A coach is not always needed, but it’s a big plus.”
He warned that bodybuilding is not a healthy sport, especially on the pro level.
“Health, nobody is talking about what we all know: bodybuilding is not a healthy sport, especially professional bodybuilding.
Professional bodybuilding is not about health. Professional bodybuilding is about building as much muscle as possible and bringing it to the stage. You’re building muscular details and in condition physique.”
Wolf isn’t the only athlete warning about the risks of bodybuilding. Seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger called it the most dangerous sport in the world, pointing to dangerous PED use. He adds that this problem is more prevalent than ever in the Men’s Open.
Wolf’s longevity is on constant display in retirement. He believes balancing food, supplements, and training was critical to his long-lasting career in the IFBB Pro League.
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