We discussed this in some detail on MM in which TP used to post on.
http://www.chadnicholls.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28039
Steroids of course played a part but factors in high BP, excessive, bodyweight, dehydration, diuretics, ephedrine, etc etc high protein diets and intense exercise which increases proteinuria and the use of pain killers both OTC and recreational.
Add all that up and more and you have a recipe for killing kidneys these days in the sport. Don Long, TP, and Flex are the big names to fall.
Just recently a vet from the boards masswithclass died from complications of dialysis, his kidneys failed from a multitude of combinations above, although not a giant and high doser he was always on and on epehdrine and diuretics and competing.
none of this stuff will kill you or blow out your kidneys with sensible use and cycling but it's a combination of many factors above and beyond normal limits that will take an organ like the kidneys out over time.
ADVIL is extremely toxic to the kidneys if taken like candy like TP admitted too and add in all the other factors and boom.
Tom was quoted as taking 8-10 tablets 3-4 times a day at the upper end of dosing that's 8,000 mgs of advil a day. This was done to combat joint pain while precontest training so add in fat burners high BP and dehydration and excessive waste products from hard core prep training and AAS and GH and damn.....
http://www.drdry.com/drugbust.html
Not victimizing or demonizing or defending drugs or making excuses but just putting it out there for those to read.