Mike Hall, a pioneering figure in drug-free powerlifting, reached impressive records during his career. At the 1989 American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA) Nationals, Hall achieved a squat of 909.4 pounds, a bench press of 622.8 pounds, and a deadlift of 749.5 pounds, totaling 2,281 pounds. His career-best totals reached as high as 2,336.9 pounds, cementing his status as one of the strongest drug-free lifters of his era. These achievements were groundbreaking, as Hall competed in a time when performance-enhancing drugs were common in powerlifting, yet he consistently set records without their use.

More recently, Austin Perkins is recognized for his drug-free accomplishments, especially notable in the 75-kilogram weight class. In 2023, he broke records with lifts including a 691-pound squat, a 441-pound bench press, and a 744-pound deadlift, totaling 1,819 pounds. His performance also earned him the highest DOTS score ever recorded for a tested lifter, making him a standout in modern drug-free powerlifting.

Both athletes showcase incredible strength within the context of natural, drug-tested competition, illustrating the potential for high-level performance without steroids 

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While drug testing in sports is designed to catch athletes using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), it is not foolproof. There are several ways that athletes, including powerlifters, could potentially evade detection, even if they regularly undergo testing:

1. Timing and Drug Cycles

• Many athletes using steroids follow strict cycles that allow them to stop using drugs long enough before testing so that the substances clear from their systems. The detection windows for certain steroids can vary, and if an athlete times their usage carefully, they might pass drug tests without being clean during training and competition phases .

2. Designer Steroids and Undetectable Drugs

• Some substances are specifically engineered to evade detection by standard tests. Designer steroids and newer PEDs may not be on the testing panels used by organizations. If a compound is not explicitly tested for or recognized by the testing agency, an athlete using it could still technically pass as “clean.” This has been seen in cases such as the BALCO scandal, where athletes used previously undetectable steroids .

3. Masking Agents and Micro-Dosing

• Masking agents can interfere with the ability of tests to detect steroids or other PEDs. Additionally, micro-dosing—taking very small amounts of a drug—can reduce the likelihood of detection, as these doses are often below the threshold that tests are designed to catch. Athletes might use such strategies to maintain some performance benefits without triggering a positive test .

4. Loopholes in Drug Testing Protocols

• Some athletes might take advantage of flaws or inconsistencies in the drug testing protocols of certain federations. For instance, testing might not always be random or might lack stringent oversight. In sports where there is a gap between tests or reliance on infrequent random testing, athletes have a better chance of evading detection by using PEDs outside of testing periods .

5. Genetic and Biological Manipulations

• Techniques like gene doping and other advanced biological manipulations have emerged, allowing some to enhance their performance without traditional steroids. These methods are even harder to detect and might provide substantial advantages similar to those offered by steroids.

While the majority of tested athletes are likely clean, these methods show that it is technically possible for some to use PEDs and still pass as drug-free. As drug testing technology advances, so do the methods of evading detection, making it a continuous race between detection capabilities and methods to circumvent them.