Relationship of Maximum Strength to Weightlifting Performance
@RT_Nomad, if I smaller guy challenges you to a pull up contest, make sure you correct for lean body mass (and height which i will ignore here) 
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Pull-ups correspond similar to the Schwartz formula (or newer one), I would think.
The first guy I knew who could do a one arm pull-up and 100 two arm pull-ups only weighed about 140lbs, fairly short, and very little fat. He might have been capable to be a good power lifter, but never had the desire to try. He did have sticks for legs.
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Iāve seen a girl I used to climb with occasionally do a legit one arm pull up. She was about 100 lbs, and a very competent climber. I took second place at my collegeās menās open climbing contest, and she took first for the women, and would have been first in menās had she been allowed in.
Regards to the above, would you agree that when considering AAS use, the more relevant factors could be the overall dedication and goals of the athlete, the time spent training and perfecting oneās technique, fine tuning diet and rest with a clear set of goals in mind, despite perhaps not being able to achieve a certain number of pull/chin-ups, which are and which success is, as can be seen from your own example above dependent on a number of other non-athletic factors i.e. the individual is likely a short, underweight young male?
By limiting AAS use to the mentioned standards you have basically denied access for an entire plethora of athletes, starting from the heavy powerlifter who has dedicated half his life to achieving a 1000lb deadlift but canāt do 2 strict pullups, to the professional cyclist who is skin and bones with thighs the size of a young calf looking for a competitive edge.
Limiting the use of PEDs off of this criteria is rather biased and limits the use of AAS more or less only to low-fat bodybuilders looking for purely aesthetic gains while denying them to others that may have in my opinion more tangible and justifiable reasons to use steroids.
Maybe next time instead of asking how many pull-ups one can do, we could ask them what their goals and purpose of using PEDs are. Then take it from there. Granted, most likely people are doing it for aesthetic reasons to make up for their shitty traning, substandard dedication and bad eating habits.
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Your points are valid. And I appreciate that position.
Maybe I shouldnāt comment at all. But it is just a single personās opinion, and I acknowledge that most prospective AAS users will disagree with me.
Previous to me joining T-Nation I only made AAS recommendations in person after watching them lift in the gym. I take a hardline. If you donāt expect to be able to compete and I donāt believe you have the genetics to be relatively successful, I will not suggest you take AAS.
IMO, the person with good genetics makes good progress doing even the least effective training routines. And I know that nobody wants to hear that. But yes, the lifters should always strive to find the best routines.
I got many more inquiries from kids recently out of high school. Pull-ups was a quick easy test. For those over 25 who didnāt do much exercise, their extra weight is an extreme hinderance doing pull-ups. But I would need to be impressed with their weight room strength.
Just to let you know, my recommendation was seldom taken. If the person wants to take AAS, they usually do. I was not offended one way or the other and I am not here either. I value everyoneās opinion. I may not agree with their choices, but I support their freedom to make their own choice.
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Amen.
IDK, even the successful competitors generally donāt make much money. Even some of the freaks I know, have won like belts, or tubs of protein powder. I donāt think I know a single person who hasnāt spent more than theyāve won.
I guess the whole competing justification doesnāt add up to me, unless you really think youāre good enough to make a lot
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There are many layers of rationalization and justification. Like any other drug addiction or mental illness.
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