MM - When did you first begin using synthol?

GG - I never actually used synthol until I came to the U.S in march of 98, in fact I never really used a great deal of synthol to be honest. I would estimate that I have used aprrox. 4 bottles of synthol in total. I was more into site injecting whatever product I was using at the time.

MM -When did you start with the site injecting & how did that come about.

GG - A mate of mine introduced me to site injecting, we had some great battles competing against each at the National level back home. Which would have been around 96, he explained the art of site injecting to me. He had some pretty freaky calves & he explained how he had been site injecting them for quite some time. His calves had been a real weak point early in his career & soon enough they where one of his better bodyparts from the site injecting. I started injecting my calves rather than my butt from 96 onwards.

MM - Was it painful injecting in your calves.

GG - The shoots them selves where not painful at all, but the after effects from the shoots where pretty painful. The worst time was waking up in the morning, now that was painful, the calves where cold & when you put pressure on them & stretched them out & started walking it was extremely painful. The worst thing would be waking up in the middle of the night busting to go the toilet & having to get in there, I had a few close calls, but I always made it ha ha. A lot of my boys back home tried site injecting, these guys where hard men. Street fighters, enforcers & they honestly couldn't handle it. I had one mate's girlfriend ring me up crying, saying her boyfriend couldn't get out of bed & could I take him to the hospital. So yeah the calves are by far t& away the most painful muscle group to shot. It takes a dedicated person to endure that kind of pain.

MM - How did you deal with the pain?

GG - I had no choice, just grin & bear it. I was training 10 people a day at the time so I was on my feet all day long. I covered my calves up completely & was limping around the gym like the hunch back of Notre Dame ha ha. Every one would ask me what was wrong & I would be like"oh, I just strained a muscle in my calf". I have always been very driven & to me this was just one of the prices I had to pay for the success I was chasing at the time. When you are young & hungry, you can endure a great deal.

MM - What products did you use in your calves.

GG - I used Deca, primabolan dept, Stanazol, all the tests. I would advise against using anything water based, I came to the conclusion that anything oil based was good to use. I would never use anything water based; they are so dirty & cause infections so easily. The best product to use by far was Propionate, but in saying that it was also the most painful. It really causes irritation at the injection site, as I am sure most that have used Propionate are aware. It sure as God blew them up though.

MM - Did you train them hard while you where injecting them.

GG - Definitely, I trained them like crazy. I was going ultra heavy as Dorian Yates had come out with his heavy-duty system of training. I had to use the smith machine with weights loaded all over it as the regular standing calve raise at my gym didn't have enough weight. I was like a man possessed on my calves at that stage.

MM -Do you think site injecting alone will contribute to the muscle group's growth.

GG - Yeah, big time, I noticed that after consistent use they started to really blow up. I found through my own personal experience that injecting steroids into a specific muscle group consistently, they do respond a great deal better, as the steroids produce additional stimulation for growth. I have heard quite a few people confirm this & feel qualified to back that claim up as I have witnessed it personally on my own physique & that of others on various body parts. The word is consistency when it comes to site injections. You have to keep doing it to get the growth.

MM - When did you start using synthol in your calves?

GG - I have never used synthol in my calves, not one shot. I have used it in my arms, but my calves where purely the result of site injecting. I have no reason to lie about this, I am sure some people reading this will say yeah, bullshit, but that's the truth. If I cared what people thought, I wouldn't be admitting to any of this in this interview. I have nothing to hide; my calves are 100% synthol free. They are purely the result of site injecting.

MM - Did you have any affects from using the synthol & site injections?

GG - Oh yeah, big time. The main thing was that I was penalized in a lot of shows I should have won. I actually won the World Championships in 99, but was put back into 2nd place for excessive use of synthol which I had used in my arms. That was the toughest thing for me, I worked so hard for that show & was totally broke, and I had a hundred dollars in the bank. My mate Lou, the owner of the Supplement Company I endorse "Kaizen Nutrition", paid my airfare, so I could compete. That competition was the only time in my carrer that I hit the nail on the head, condition wise. I was so on the money that day & I screwed my self out of a World title. It's funny, I did these things because I wanted to be the best, I would do anything to win & these things ended up robbing me of the dream I had been chasing all my life. That is my biggest regret as I took 2nd on two occasions & I know if it wasn't for the site injecting & the synthol, I would be a 2 time World Champion today. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I was totally devastated by these events, I cried like a baby in the hotel room both times. But I did it too my self & a man stands up when he is at fault & on these matters I am standing very tall ha ha.
I had countless infections; I became quite proficient at draining them my self. The worst one was actually quite funny looking back. I had just bought a new pair of knee high Harley Davidson boots, my training partner Steve & I went to the movies. I was feeling like a bad man all decked out in my blue jeans, tight white T-shirt & my brand spanking new Harley boots.

I walked in there feeling pretty good about my self, during the movie my left calve really started to ache, which was nothing new for me back them. I took my boot off & watched the rest of the movie. When the movie ended my calf had swollen up like a balloon. It was so swollen that I couldn't get my boot back on. I was walked out of the movie theatre with one boot on & the other boot in my hand doing my impersonation of hunch back all over again ha ha. Even back then I had to laugh at my self. For the next few days I was draining my calve & pulling out about 20 ml of blood each day, I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but after 3 days of this even I figured that some thing was wrong. I went to the doctor who sent me to have an ultra sound performed on my calf. The doctor walks in & looks at my calf & goes my god it is swollen isn't it, I said "ah doc, it's the other one that's the problem ". I directed him to the left calf & the look on his face told me it wasn't good. For the next hour or so I was like a science project, everyone was coming in to look at me, I swear they even sent the cleaner in to have a look ah ah. They did the Ultra sound & the specialist said you may need vascular surgery as it appears you have nicked the artery in your calve. I wasn't a doctor, but I knew that wasn't good. I was told that I had a very slim chance of avoiding surgery if I went home elevated the leg & applied extreme pressure to the calf for 3 days. I did exactly as I was told; it was the longest 3 days of my life. Thankfully, I have always been able to recover from all sorts of injuries throughout my career & I was blessed to make a full recovery. I was lying there in bed saying god, if you make this better I will never stick another needle in my calve again, I think I lasted about a 2 weeks before I was doing it again, boys will be boys. At that stage I was a very slow learner ha ha
That was pretty bad, but the scariest was just prior to the Worlds in 99. I started injecting my arms, I was bout 10 days out & I was sitting on the end the bed with my Ex wife Kelly sleeping behind me. We where staying at her parents home in Australia as I had to fly back home to win the Nationals to qualify for the Worlds. This moment I will never forget, I did a shot in my left triceps & straight away it felt weird, almost as soon as I did the shot I felt really strange & my arm was in so much pain. I became extremely pale & my vein's appeared to turn blue all in a matter of 5 seconds, I felt really bad. I thought that I had injected straight into a vein or an artery & honestly thought that I was going to die as that what would be the result of doing that. So many things went through my head; I was going to wake Kelly up & then thought better of it, as that wouldn't help the situation. I basically sat there waiting to die on the end of the bed. It was funny because I calmly put away the syringes & gear as I thought that it was kind of disrespectful to Kelly & her parents to be found dead with all that shit around me in there home. It's funny the things that go through your mid at a time like that. After a minute or so I thought, maybe I'm not going to die. Which made me feel a little better ha ha?
I was so cold & pale, I thought to my self. I will get in the shower & warm my self up; I calmly walked through the lounge room past Kelly's family said hello & got in the shower. I was feeling terrible & went to brush my hair back with my hands over my face & I waked my self right in the head with my left hand. I couldn't move or control my hand at all; it was like the claw from the movie ha ha. This gave me a little scare as you can well imagine. I ended up going back into the bedroom & woke Kelly up & she had her mother take a look at me who is a beautiful woman & a nurse. The up shot of it all was that I hit the nerve in my arm with the needle. I was in so much pain, I couldn't sleep for a couple of days as the pain was so intense & my whole hand was throbbing nor did I get the strength back in my hand for about a month after that. My fingernails went completely black & just the slightest touch of my finger's hurt like you wouldn't believe. I endured all this & a 24-hrs flight to Austria for the World Championships to win the show & then get put back into 2nd place for over use of synthol. That was a tough time for me & pretty scary to say the least. But I survived it all & am very thank full for that. Oh' I have never used anything in my triceps since that day. I may have been a slow learner, but I wasn't completely stupid ha ha.

MM - How would you suggest using synthol or site injections to get the best effect?

GG - I wouldn't use it all.

MM - Ok, but for those that want to know. What is the most effective way to use these products?

GG - The purpose of doing this interview is to show how costly using these things can be, not only on your health but how it can undo all your hard work in the gym & affect your career, no one takes you seriously as a bodybuilder. I believe the proper way to use synthol is it throw it in the bin & bust your balls in the gym to get the physique you are after.

MM - You haven't competed for a while has the synthol & site injections played a part in that.

GG - Yeah that is the only reason. I don't deserve to compete at the world Championships with my arms looking the way they do at present. My calves look normal finally as I have been undergoing deep tissue massage twice weekly to break down the scar tissue & have been doing the same for my arms recently & thankfully they are looking normal again. Once the shit is out of my arms & the development I have is purely the result of my hard work & genetics is the time I will compete again. I feel that I have a lot to prove. I am only 31 & have never really been in a position financially to do the things that the guys at the World championship level do. I have never spent more than $2,000 in whole year for a show. I am now very comfortable financially so it will be interesting to see what happens when I do take it to the next level.

MM - It is clear that you regret using those products.

GG -Yes & No, I have endured a lot in my life & I believe everything happens for a reason. I regret that I let my self down more than anything else, but also that I have not lived up to the potential I seen in my self as well the people that have believed in me all these years. I have a huge amount of respect for my Mate Lou of Kazien nutrition, who has been like my father; brother & best friend all wrapped up in one, he took me under his wing from the time I came to the U.S. I so much wanted to walk into his office at the Kaizen headquarters as a World champion & say thank you Mate, this is for you & hand him the trophy. I robbed my self of that experience along with Lou & that is my major regret through all of this. I cannot change the past, but I can speak out about this major problem in our sport & hopefully prevent others from following the same path I have. If I can convince just one person that what I have done is wrong & is cheating 100% then I have succeeded in why I have come out in the open about this.

MM - Is synthol & site injecting prevalent in our sport.

GG - To a degree yes, the amateurs are going crazy with the synthol, they are basically looking for a short cut to the pro ranks. The pro's, to me it is quite obvious who participates in this activity. But most of the guy's physiques are the result of many years of hard work.

MM - would you like to name some of the pro's that use synthol.

GG - It's not my place to name others that use synthol. I am amazed though that so many people deny it in the magazines, it is so clear that they do, even a blind person can see it. It just makes them look like idiots & liars. These guys don't get any respect from me at all, the funny thing is these people have criticized me more times that I care to remember behind my back, but when it comes to saying anything to my face they say jack shit. This makes me respect then even less. I have had words with a few of the guys as I heard what they were saying & it pissed me off. But they would deny it like a little girl. These people know who they are & I laugh at them as they have big mouths & no balls.

MM - Do you think the judges are doing a good job of ridding this problem from our sport

GG - In the NPC & NABBA amateurs they are doing a reasonable job as I have seen them mark guys down for it's use, but in saying that I have seen some ridiculous results. I will never forget guest posing at a show & this guy wins the overall & he was just full of synthol & they awarded him the whole show. I mentioned this when I was eating out after the show with the officials & they said that they didn't think he used it. That was such a joke; he had lumps & bumps every where.
The IFBB let's a lot of guys that obviously use it place well, you know who they are as the other guys continually complain about them in the magazines. The thing is if the judges don't do anything about it. The other competitors think one of two things, the first train of thought is if he can use it then so can I. The 2nd train of thought is that if I want to be placed high where the money is, I have to use it as they want that look of freakiness. So the judges have to take a lot of responsibility for the problem in my opinion. They set the standards that we all adhere to. They want us bone dry & ripped, we come in dry & ripped, they want freaky looking arms, delts & calves then that's what the bodybuilders will try & give them. If you reward some one for having out outlandish triceps or biceps that are clearly from excessive synthol use, then what message are they sending out to the rest of the pro's along with the younger guys coming through the ranks. By not making it clear to the athletes in question that it is not acceptable & penalizing them or even disqualify them, they are sending out the message that its ok to use these products. They say it's banned but do nothing to enforce it at all. All the competitors & fans can easily identify who these guys are but the judges can't it seems. Th NOC was a prime example, everyone commented on a certain competitor that looked ridiculous with lumps all through his shoulders & he places high at that show. The worst thing is so many guys bust their ass in this sport only to be beaten by someone who sat in front of his TV with a bottle of synthol a syringe & pumped his arms & shoulders full of the shit. This sport takes so much heart, drive & dedication that to loose to someone who clearly cheated must be the worst feeling in the world. As I said the judges do nothing, so the guy that did it the right way with his sweat & tears feels robbed & either continues busting his ass & getting beaten by these synthol filled guy's or they are forced to retire as they loose faith in the sport which is such a shame. Then there are the extremists who are so passionate & dedicated to the sport that they say fuck this, if that's what I have to do to place well, then that's what I will do. The officials should be held responsible in my opinion. By not making a decision they are making a decision which is fucking up our sport, we are already ridiculed for the steroid issue by the general public. Soon we will be thought of as pretend bodybuilders with pretend muscles. Unfortunately the future isn't in the hands of us bodybuilders as it should be, it is in the hands of the officials & it is clear that they are taking us down hill fast.

MM - What do you think should be done to correct the problem

GG - Make it clear that if you use synthol & it is apparent then you will be marked down considerably. They should pull the competitor aside & inform him officially that, you are ruining your physique & you will be marked down each time you compete unless we can see that you have stopped using the synthol as well as taking measures to alleviate the problem & reduce the swelling. If the competitor has adhered to the judge's requests then it will be very clear the next time they compete. If they have made an effort to correct the problem they should be allowed to compete, but they should still be marked down if the problem is still apparent. I know from my own personal experience that if you cease using synthol & get deep tissue massage the effects will diminish with time. The fans should boo the guys on stage & call them out if their use is obvious, don't cheer a freaky pair of triceps if you can see that they are the result of synthol. Voice your opinion and then maybe the officials will see that the fans won't tolerate the shit any longer, they have to keep the fans happy, they are the reason for the sport being successful. The fans should also write the IFBB & make their feeling clear on synthol; the athletes can't do that, because it will screw them when they next compete. The fans should voice their opinion, because you guys are what allows the sport to prosper, without you guys we have no sport.

MM - What are the signs of synthol use?

GG - Well if the bodypart is funky looking that is a good start, if you feel a muscle group that has been pounded with synthol you can feel the lumps & gristle in there especially with the biceps. If the muscle group is smooth in comparison & does not have a lot of definition then that is a sure sign. An example would be if a competitor has striated quads & veins running every where & his calves are smooth & do not change a great deal when they are flexed, then that is another sign. For the biceps, when the arm is hanging & relaxed by your side & they have a bulge in it then that pretty much speaks for it self. The delts, the same thing applies they will be smooth in comparison to the chest. The judges should have no trouble picking it up as they should know what looks real & what doesn't one would think. Then you can also do the squeeze test, simply massage & feel the muscle group & if there is synthol in there you will feel it, as it is not a natural part of the muscle. It is very easy to spot & detect, so why don't they do it?

MM -Are you concerned what some of the other bodybuilder will think about you for coming out about this.

GG - No, not at all. The only guy's that may have a problem with me coming out about this are the ones that are using it. I could care less what they think of me. I am not pointing the finger at any one. I am simply stating fact, I feel qualified to comment on this issue & say what I feel which is that it is cheating & used by losers that are not willing to put in the effort. Remember, I was one of the dicks that used it, so whatever I am saying about this issue is directed at me as also. I clearly cheated & paid a pretty hefty price for my site injecting & use of synthol, I got what I deserved.
I love bodybuilding, it has given me so much that I am grateful for in my life, it has taught me discipline & I don't want to see the sport dragged down by something like this. Everyone agrees that synthol is wrong & it shouldn't be a part of our sport, but the officials need to set a precedent before it ruins bodybuilding, which I believe it will. We all love this sport because it takes so much discipline, commitment & drive to reach the level of a pro. Synthol is attacking the very fabric of all that in my opinion. It is no different than implants, which are banned. I just don't want people thinking of us as guys that sit in front of the TV with a syringe full synthol in one hand & a protein shake in the other. That is not what this sport is all about to me, but synthol use is making it look that way too many.

MM - Are you concerned that when you do compete again that your placing will be affected as you have been pretty harsh on the judges & officials.

GG - Oh yeah, big time. That is a definite concern & will more than likely affect me when I do compete again. So why do it you may ask. That's how much I love this sport. Someone has to stand up & say what everyone else is thinking before the damage is done & the sport is thought of as a joke. I am not saying this about all the federations or all the officials, as there are some good people that do care about the direction the sport is heading. I am just saying what needs to be said. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in & speak your mind. If that pisses some officials off, then that's good. That's why I am coming out about this to shake things up & try to make the people in charge do just that, take charge & lead the sport in the right direction, because right now the people in charge are doing a very poor job.

MM -What problems do bodybuilders that use synthol face mentally by not using synthol or site injecting any longer.

GG - The main thing is that the bodypart that you used the synthol or site injecting on will become smaller. As you can imagine this is not a word a bodybuilder likes to hear ha ha. If they have become known as having big arms, delts or calves then they will have a hard time not using the synthol anymore. I know this, as I had to deal with it. I had my arms up to 20 ¼ cold at one stage, now they are 19 ¼ cold, so I lost a whole inch. My calves where near to 21 & now they are 19, so that's 2 inches. Now I am all depressed thinking about it ha ha. It does play with your mind a little, but if you are honest with your self you know that it was just the synthol that made them measure & look so big. It had nothing to do with hard you spent in the gym training them, although sticking a needle in your arm can be considered hard work for some ha ha.

MM - Thank you Guy for your honesty on such a touchy subject, do you have anything else you would like to add.

GG - I would like to thank all the people who have supported me throughout my career Steve Hunter, Ali Dawson, Lou of Kaizen Nutrition & of course the most important person in my life other than God, my wife Kiyoko. I would also like to apologize to these same people for letting you all down with my stupidity. To all my fans that are so great, thanks for all your support, it means a lot to me & I am thankful for all your E-mails, letters & kind words. Takes care all.