
Gladiators stars will reportedly undergo regular routine drug tests after the original show was caught up in cocaine scandals.
The iconic sports game show is set to return to our screens, after the original series of Gladiators lasted for eight seasons until 2000 on ITV.
It has previously been claimed that Gladiators star Shadow (Jefferson King) tested positive for cocaine and steroids for seven months before being axed from the show, according to co-star Cobra (Michael Willson).
Shadow was axed from the show in 1995 after testing positive on a drugs test and was sadly missed out from the reunion in 2015.
He previously opened up about his life spiralling out of control in the years afterwards but claimed he never took Class A drugs while on the series.
According to reports, the BBC are keen to keep the reboot ‘clean as a whistle’, with a source revealing to The Sun: ‘They have their work cut out.

‘The type of eye-popping muscles they will want don’t just come from lettuce, chicken and protein shakes.
‘However, the show is going to be one of the BBC’s family flagships and the motto is, “Keep it wholesome”‘.
The publication adds that application forms for Gladiator hopefuls ask: ‘Have you ever used performance-enhancing drugs?’ and specify: ‘All Gladiators/contenders will be subject to routine drug testing.’
The programme saw athletic TV fans battle as Contenders against the show’s mighty Gladiators, in events that test their speed, skill, stamina and strength.


Each week, four public members competed in gruelling trials against a colourful cast of professional bodybuilders and gymnasts.
In 2008, Gladiators was later revived on Sky One for two series, including three special episodes that pitted the new Gladiators against the original Gladiator Legends.
The show has enjoyed various spin-offs, in countries such as Australia, the USA, Finland and South Africa.
The show was presented by Ulrika Jonsson throughout its original run, alongside John Fashanu and Jeremy Guscott.