WEIGHTLIFTING competition cancelled after drug tests puts jail musclemen in the frame for prison punishments for their use of body-building steroids.

A PRISON strongman contest has been cancelled because cons feared they would fail drug tests for steroids. The annual event was due to be staged for the fifth time at privately run Addiewell prison. But muscle-bound inmates have boycotted the June competition because of a drugs crackdown by the authorities. In recent months, seven inmates who pump iron in the prison gym have tested positive for drugs including anabolic steroids. Prison director Audrey Park issued them with a punishment of 14 days without privileges. That included a gym ban. Prisoners using body-building steroids and other drugs have now snubbed the competition in case they’re caught. The number of inmates using the gym at the West Lothian prison has also gone down since testing began. A prison insider said: “A large number of prisoners were training at the gym for the competition but it’s been cancelled. “Many of them have stopped going to the gym when they heard guards were carrying out tests for narcotics. “The gym is probably the main thing in prison that helps inmates pass their time.” “However, staff have been cracking down on drug use, especially steroids, as they can cause prisoners to behave aggressively or become violent. “Many inmates have also stopped working out in the gym as they fear they will be drug tested and given the same punishments and loss of privileges.” Private firm Sodexo who run the prison, said: “Unfortunately due to a lack of interest from the prisoners, HMP Addiewell made the decision to cancel the planned strongman competition.” Many prisoners pumping iron have been caught ­showing off their muscles on Facebook like Shotts inmate Stephen Price. Last month, it was revealed that there were almost 2000 drugs finds in Scotland’s jails last year – an average of more than five a day. The number of drugs seizures has almost doubled in a decade. Addiewell recorded the highest number of breaches with 465 seizures – an average of more one a day – up from 297 in 2011. In 2010, a total of 735 prisoners – 17 per cent of inmates – tested positive for drugs in Scottish prisons. Addiewell houses some of Scotland’s most violent criminals It has been dubbed the Addison after the luxury Radisson hotel chain.