“American Gladiators” reality series star “Nitro” has written a memoir entitled – Gladiator: A True Story of ‘Roids, Rage and Redemption. In the book the gladiator, whose real name is Dan Clark talked about the negative effects of muscle-enhancing drugs, which included making sex painful for him, shrunken genitalia and growing breasts.

“Man boobs, breast-chesticles is what they’re called on the street. Gynecomastia is the scientific name. No matter what you call it, I [had] it,” says Clark, who used the bodybuilding chemicals to achieve the perfect physique for the television series. “I hate[d] taking off my shirt. For photo shoots, [I'd] wet my nipple with spit … [to] look firm instead of hanging down.”

Clark worked on the original “American Gladiators” for seven seasons (1989 to 1996). During production he pleaded with the wardrobe stylist to make him a new uniform, but didn’t let on that it was “to hide my budding breasts.” Clark would later undergo breast reduction surgery.

Clark, 44, who was also at one time a defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, says that he used steroids for 20 years. Clark says that the drugs caused his testicle to shrink, and he often would have to explain the situation to girls that he bedded. “”My balls never really regained their size. They’re kind of shriveled,” Clark says that he told one lover.

Clark also says that because of steroids, he experienced a “dull throbbing pain” every time he had sex.

Gladiator: A True Story of ‘Roids, Rage and Redemption is published by Simon and Schuster and hits the shelves on February 10.