Stories of transformation

Ian McDowall Relying on God’s powerful resources

Major Rosemary Dawson continues a series in which she remembers some of the inspirational people she met while working on the War Cry

VIOLENCE, fuelled by steroid addiction, was a way of life for champion bodybuilder Ian McDowall. It almost led to a broken marriage and a prison sentence. He once kept a gun in his car, a knuckleduster in his pocket and a knife under his pillow. Now his only ‘weapons’ are a Bible and the love of God.

Having grown up in east London, Ian worked as a debt collector. He became obsessed with bodybuilding after seeing a competition.

‘I came second in my first event, won several area championships and competed in the British Championships four times,’ Ian said. ‘I took my first steroid at 19 to build up my muscles, and they soon had a noticeable effect.’

The use of steroids is illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. The normal strength is between 2mg and 60mg a day; Ian was eventually taking 400mg a day by mouth, plus an injection. ‘These work more quickly because they are released through the bloodstream and don’t have to be digested,’ he explained. Living above a vet’s surgery, he acquired steroids intended for horses – ignoring the label’s clear warning: ‘Not for human consumption.’

‘I became a club doorman to get money for my addiction and had a baseball bat in case of trouble. The first time I hit someone, it felt quite good.’

Ian married Val in 1988.

‘She wanted me to get a “proper job”,’ he recalled. ‘It put a constant strain on our relationship. She’d been brought up to have a faith and go to church. She knew nothing about the drugs. We had this agreement: I didn’t talk about violence and she didn’t talk about religion!’

A job as head doorman at another club brought Ian more income, but also more violence. Recurring nightmares about God and Hell preyed on his mind.

Continual use of steroids caused a condition called gynaecomastia, a hardening of fatty tissue surrounding the nipples. This threatened Ian’s bodybuilding career, including his place in the World Championships in Japan.

‘It cost £1,500 for an operation – money I didn’t have – so I decided to steal it from the club. That Friday there was a very big fight and an ammonia attack there. My car was smashed with an axe, and – even worse – my operation was going to cost £800 more than expected.

‘When I had a nightmare, I woke Val and told her about it. Her instant reaction was to say a prayer, asking Jesus to help me. Afterwards I felt peaceful and slept like a baby. But the next day nothing had changed.’

After yet another night of violence, Ian stopped in a lay-by on his way home, covered in blood.

‘I sat there thinking about my life,’ he said. ‘My marriage was on the rocks; I carried a gun and a knife in the car. I asked myself why I was doing this.

‘I didn’t know how to pray, but called out: “God, if you’re there, please help me and forgive me.” A deep feeling of peace and love came over me, and I felt cleansed and washed.

‘I knew I couldn’t change my life by myself. The only way forward was to rely on God’s powerful resources. From then on, I felt like a different person. I started reading the Bible and was surprised to find out so much about Jesus.’

Val also had to adjust to her ‘new’ husband.

‘We’d been on the point of divorce for some time,’ Ian said. ‘I’d been totally obsessed with bodybuilding, now I was rushing about telling people about Jesus!

‘My family had always taken second place to what I wanted; I had to learn to appreciate Val’s Christian qualities all over again. Our family life improved. We worshipped and attended church together.

‘I promised Val I’d quit bodybuilding if I had my operation. The next day, a letter arrived from an NHS hospital with a date for the treatment.’

When I met him Ian was running his own security business. He no longer competed, but still trained.

‘Jesus is the God of my life now, not Ian McDowall. He has helped me become a real man – someone who cares about other people.’

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Ian is a founding member of Tough Talk, a group of men from similar backgrounds who visit around 300 prisons, drug rehab centres and churches each year giving power-lifting demonstrations and talking about the dramatic changes God has made in their lives.

MAJOR DAWSON LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN ST AUSTELL