I’m not sure about the time of death, but older photo’s scream anabolics to me. He didn’t have a Pro’s physique(not many steroid users get to that level no matter how many drugs they take), but much larger and fuller than any natural.
I think he had links with Ben Johnsons coach, was a professional strength, sports coach. Coached many prominent bodybuilders like Milos Sarcev, and John Meadows.
Nearly all his training routines (not German Volume training) are geared towards assisted bodybuilders, high intensity and high volume, giant sets etc.
He was at the cutting edge of training in the time where drug use wasn’t openly talked about. I don’t remember anything about steroids in his books, just lots of pic’s of pro’s on juice and himself with pretty well developed arms.
To me the fact that he was on the gear gave him more credibility than many other bodybuilding writers, and training experts of that era and before. He actually used himself as a guinea pig to test what works not just observing other people.
No disrespect to him at all.
Very sorry to hear that he died so young.