{"id":10416,"date":"2026-01-15T20:21:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:21:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=10416"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:21:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:21:59","slug":"six-questions-youve-always-wanted-to-ask-a-bodybuilder-but-were-too-afraid-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=10416","title":{"rendered":"Six questions you’ve always wanted to ask a bodybuilder (but were too afraid to)"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

All bodybuilders are on steroids and spend all day in the gym, right? Not exactly.<\/p>\n

Tim Martin is what they call a “natural” bodybuilder \u2014 someone who doesn’t take any performance-enhancing substances and goes through a rigorous drug-testing process before every competition.<\/p>\n

The former military man has been competing since 2002, has won four Australian natural bodybuilding championships and four world championships and next month will head to the US for the World Cup Natural Pro\/Am.<\/p>\n

He is here to answer (and correct) all the myths and stereotypes around his sport.<\/p>\n

Why do you do it?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n

This article contains content that is not available.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

“I started training in the gym to improve sport that I was doing at school. A kid over the road started to get better vertical leap for basketball, and I was doing basketball and athletics.<\/p>\n

“So I got into it and caught the gym bug.<\/p>\n

“Once I joined the military I had people getting in my ear saying, ‘Oh look, you should have a crack at competing, you might do OK’, and it just spiralled from there.”<\/p>\n

Who are you trying to impress?<\/h2>\n

“I guess you are your own harshest critic. You compare … competition photos from one year to the next.<\/p>\n

“But then at the same time you put in all that work and you want to go and do the competitions to see where you’re at, compare yourself against other best naturals in the world.<\/p>\n

\n

“I think the current generation, some of the younger competitors coming up, it’s more they’re doing it for social media interests. It’s all about their Instagram.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“That didn’t exist when I started.<\/p>\n

“Yeah sure, you train because you appreciate what it can do for your appearance, but I was doing it more for a sport.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n

Bodybuilder Tim Martin takes part in a competition. (Supplied: Tim Martin<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Every bodybuilder takes steroids, right?<\/h2>\n

“No.<\/p>\n

“Contrary to popular belief, there are natural federations like the INBA [International Natural Bodybuilding Association] who are affiliated with SADA, which is regulated by WADA and we are drug tested.<\/p>\n

“As professionals we can’t enter the professional division and be eligible for prize money and prizes unless we have a clear drug test, and that’s in and out of competition.<\/p>\n

\n

“Those that don’t do it drug-free, they’re flat-out saying, ‘There’s no such thing as natural bodybuilding, they’re all cheats and they’re just smart enough to get away with it’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“That’s definitely a bug-bear for most natural competitors.”<\/p>\n

Do you basically live in the gym?<\/h2>\n