Gladiators bosses were reportedly warned about star Giant’s steroid use months before the series rebooted last year – but decided to keep him on the show.
Giant – whose real name is Jamie Christian-Johal – reportedly admitted to BBC execs about taking steroids when a series of YouTube videos resurfaced after he joined the line up of the hugely popular 90s show.
The budding TV star is understood to have boasted about his “phenomenal gains” in the online clips, with one said to be titled: “Take this and you will get big.” Now, an anonymous whistle-blower – who is also an ex-bodybuilder – claims he told producers about the 37-year-old’s steroid use eight months before he was selected for the programme.
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Speaking to The Sun, he claims bosses “brushed off” his allegation, adding: “I was surprised they were so cavalier about something so serious. I was motivated in ensuring kids didn’t treat him as a role model.
(Image: PA)
“It wasn’t vindictive. The BBC told me that professional bodybuilders take steroids and it’s not illegal. But I told her everything in great detail. The BBC thought about it for a day, then came back to me asking for more information.
“But nothing was done. I was told, ‘It’s not our problem’.” The BBC declined to comment when contacted by Daily Star.
Anabolic steroids are classified as class C drugs, meaning they are only available via a prescription, but they are readily available illegally online or via social media. Last week, Giant spoke out about using steroids during the height of his bodybuilding career and insisted he does not “advocate the use” of them.
(Image: YouTube)
In a statement given to MailOnline, the sportsman explained he has stopped using performance-enhancing drugs for over a year. He told the publication: “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.”
(Image: BBC)
A BBC spokesperson later said: “The Gladiators production team were robust with their no drugs policy and drug testing was part of the process which all Gladiators agreed to and complied with. The results showed that they were not taking performance-enhancing drugs.”
An insider claimed that the situation was a “nightmare” for the flagship company, after the hugely successful reboot attracted a staggering 6.4million viewers. A source told The Sun: “This is a nightmare for the BBC, it’s a family show and they’ve somehow not spotted this material from its biggest star.
“In one YouTube video, Jamie reportedly declared that he “didn’t start taking steroids until I was 24’.” It was previously reported that BBC bosses overseeing the highly anticipated reboot were hell-bent on keeping the new series as “clean as a whistle”.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
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Loyal fans of the original ITV show will remember how several members of the cast was embroiled in scandals and drug abuse. It was claimed that the new stars of the rebooted series will have to undergo regular tests throughout the series.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
