Last year, national bodybuilding champion and winner of Mr Pakistan 2011, Shehzad Khan Afridi, suddenly died of a heart attack just a few days after winning a gold medal at the National Championship in Karachi. It is widely understood within the community that the real cause of death was the use of deadly and illegal steroids - and this wasn’t an isolated incident.

For many lower class kids in Pakistan today, bodybuilding has become an obsession and a route out of the abject poverty in which they were born. But time spent at the gym brings them into contact with unscrupulous actors feeding off their dreams, and supplying them with steroids.

VICE World News is in Pakistan to explore firsthand the obsessive culture of bodybuilding among frustrated lower working-class men and how, after investing more than they can afford in this competitive and unforgiving sport, they end up gambling with their lives for a shot at wealth and fame.

Check out the VICE World News playlist for global reporting you won't find elsewhere:    • World News  

Watch more like this:

Inside Pakistan's Morgues
   • Inside Pakistan's Morgues  

The Heroin Pill Sparking Deadly Turf Wars
   • The Heroin Pill Sparking Deadly Turf ...  

South Africa’s Descent into Chaos
   • South Africa’s Descent into Chaos  

Produced & Directed by Saad Zuberi
(Insta:   / zuberisaad   | Twitter:   / saadmzuberi  )
DOP: Haider Ali
Editor: Husain Qaizar Yunus
Associate Editor: Nina Zehri
Assistant Producer: Sharjeel Arshad

Help keep VICE News’ fearless reporting free for millions by making a one time or ongoing contribution here. - https://vice.com/contribute

Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News

Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com

Follow VICE News here:
Facebook:   / vicenews  
Twitter:   / vicenews  
Tumblr:   / vicenews  
Instagram:   / vicenews  
More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideo

#VICENews #News