Russian turns heads with unnaturally big biceps

A Russian bodybuilder whose synthol drug injections made him feel like he "was dying" has flaunted his freakish physique on social media.

The 21-year-old from Pyatigorsk in Russia has been undergoing the controversial synthol drug injection technique that some bodybuilders use to bulk up.

Kirill Tereshin explained to The Sun that the procedure involves pumping huge quantities of the drug synthol (a blend of mostly oil, painkillers and alcohol) into his arms.

"In order to reach such a size, you need to inject litres into your arms," Tereshin said.

The slightly-built Tereshin only weighed 68kg before the procedure but managed to put on six kilograms, despite his arm turning a worrying shade of purple.

"I was doing it and getting a fever of up to 40 degrees, I was lying in bed, feeling like I was dying, but then it all turned out fine," he said.

Muscle expanding injections are becoming increasingly popular among men who want their physique to resemble that of a bodybuilder - or in Tereshin's case Popeye.

After it's injected, the substance expands between muscle fibres and hardens - breaking down again in the body over a period of time.

It does however, come with a considerable degree of risk, with nerve damage, skin problems, oil-filled cysts, muscle damage and the development of scar tissue among the symptoms linked to the practice.