7 Ivan Drago Completely Used Steroids Steroids probably contributed to Ivan Drago's transformation into the man-mountain he is in Rocky IV. Drago's use of anabolic steroids is strongly hinted, whether through those injection sequences or his incredible punching strength and weight-lifting ability. Anabolic steroids are a group of drugs that stimulate bone growth by increasing blood flow to bones, preventing their collapse under their own weight, and producing an increase in the number of cells that produce collagen and other materials needed for strong bones. Although anabolic steroids were originally developed to be used as medicines to treat osteoporosis and other bone disorders, they also can be taken in excessive amounts with serious side effects. Because Drago uses them in such large doses and for such a long period of time, it is likely that he suffered from some of these problems. Anabolic steroids have many different names - including testosterone derivatives, oestrogen derivatives and progesterone derivatives. They are all synthetic versions of hormones found in humans and animals. Anabolic steroids have been popular among bodybuilders for decades because they allow them to gain mass more quickly than if they were to rely only on muscle contraction during exercise. A bodybuilder using anabolic steroids can develop big muscles faster but they would also experience hair growth, increased appetite, aggression, etc. As mentioned, anabolic steroids can have adverse effects on the body over time if used in high doses or for too long.