Is Bodybuilding Under Threat?

Does Bodybuilding affect my state of mind?
Is Bodybuilding the cause of my mood swings? Bodybuilding should essentially be a matter of physical improvement and satisfaction with one’s own body, but a healthy mind and a healthy body go together. Bodybuilding is something that I love. It has given me great satisfaction in the gym when I have seen my physique changed from a normal 10½st to a maximum of 19st and now a normal, semi-retired, 17st.

I have seen most of the top physiques in the world over the last 30 years or so. I have made some good friends through Bodybuilding and enjoyed socializing with like minded men and women. Always, as Bodybuilders, we have been in a minority; often attacked for no reason; often despised for our obsession with our appearances; often our achievements belittled by the couch potatoes; often accused of being no more than drug filled misfits. But, like the supporters of Millwall football club, we didn’t care. We were Bodybuilders, proud of it and whatever else we did with our lives we would still be Bodybuilders first and foremost.

We have to admit to being obsessive and yet totally unable to understand why the whole of the male [at least] population of the world – particularly in the rich bits – were not also Bodybuilders. In fact, serious Bodybuilders are a tiny minority in all countries. The numbers of men and women actually competing is even tinier and for years we have been in need of more competitors at all levels and in all age groups in the sport. Only two issues back, I thought that things were looking up for Bodybuilding but in the mad world in which we live, things can change very quickly.

I thought that 2004 could be a year when Bodybuilding started to really take off again but following recent developments, the reality could be the complete opposite. The year 2004 could be the year when the politicians, the bureaucrats, the federation officials, the self-righteous and the puritanical finally kill bodybuilding completely.

So, why this depression?
Let’s start in the USA. I, and many others, have already commented on the matter of George Bush and his State of the Union address when he urged the sports authorities to tackle the problem of steroids and eliminate them from sport in America. His called was taken up by Congress, by the DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency], the Police and US Customs. All other recreational drugs have been pushed to the side as they concentrate on the scourge of steroids.

Much has developed from the Balco investigation. As you will remember, it was Balco that produced the designer steroid THG. Milos Sarchev was very much involved with the company and has been investigated – his house searched and his computers taken away. Many other Bodybuilders have been arrested for possession of steroids or for dealing in steroids and other drugs. Out of the Balco investigations there is a separate federal grand jury based in Des Moine, Idaho, looking specifically into Bodybuilding and steroid distribution and many Bodybuilders have been subpoenaed to appear before this inquiry.

At the Arnold Classic week-end, 67 subpoenas were handed out to top Bodybuilders. A subpoena orders an individual to appear before a court to answer questions. It is not a criminal charge. Some Bodybuilders, like Craig Titus, have already served time in US penitentiaries for drugs related offenses and will be attending the hearings with their lawyers in attendance. Like any “fishing” expedition, cast the net wide enough and you are bound to catch something.

Is there an outcry across America; is there a demand that the federal authorities tackle the serious problems caused by Bodybuilders? Of course not! This is a simple witch hunt targeting a minority sport to deflect attention away from the money rich sports in America. Yet, it is not credible to suggest that the outcome of this investigation will be a decision to leave Bodybuilders alone. It is much more likely that Bodybuilders will be blamed for all kinds of problems with drugs in sport and legislation directed at Bodybuilders specifically is almost inevitable.

It will be useless to suggest that Bodybuilders use drugs only to help build more muscle and to compete against other Bodybuilders who do the same. They do not rob banks; they do not indulge in violence in the streets; they do not drink to excess; they do not generally smoke; they pay their taxes; even if steroids and other drugs cause health problems, they do no harm to anyone other than the using Bodybuilders.

So we can expect a tightening up of the already OTT steroid controls in America. At the same time, more legislation is planned to make all pro hormone products illegal irrespective of whether they have proven anabolic effects or not. The FDA has suggested that the nature of pro hormones is such that they should have gone through a full drug approval procedure [expensive and long-winded] before any of them were ever offered for sale.

Now, in something reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, the definition of an anabolic steroid will be changed to make it easier to ban pro hormones and also to suit the views of many of the self-righteous in the sports establishment. It has to be admitted that the increased numbers of nandrolone drug test failures linked to prohormones has been a complicating factor.

Products containing ephedrine are now banned in America because there is some evidence that for a tiny percentage of users, weight loss products containing ephedrine could, perhaps, in the fullness of time, all things considered, increase the possibility of that tiny percentage of users suffering a heart attack. Such products are already illegal in the UK although some cough medicines do still contain ephedrine in small amounts.

As if all this were not enough in America, there are ruptions in the IFBB. The head of the IFBB Professional Division was Wayne DeMilia. He has had the job for well over 20 years and whether you have liked him or not he has been the organizing power that has brought the top guys to shows around the world. Now, it seems that he has been sacked following disagreements with the Wieder family over money and the running of the Mr. Olympia contest.

It seems that the Weiders have reached an agreement with American Media Inc [which bought the Wieder magazines for $300m] and their CEO David Pecker, to promote the Mr. Olympia and Eric Wieder [Ben Wieder's son] has been appointed boss of the Pro Division. It would be churlish to mention nepotism. You will note that there has been no contact or discussions of any kind with any Bodybuilders – they are just a money making commodity.

It appears that Wayne DeMilia intended to set up a rival organization for Professional Bodybuilders so his departure from the Weider empire has not been without friction. Whether Wayne DeMilia will succeed in setting up a new organisation remains to be seen but I have doubts about the financing.

The IFBB has announced the sacking of Wayne DeMilia without a single word of thanks for his services. Now the IFBB has instructed all Pro Bodybuilders to send their Pro Cards back to them and they will be replaced with new ones – presumably without Wayne DeMilia’s name on them. Also there is the usual warning about Bodybuilders being banned if they even think of attending a non-sanctioned event.

Is it not time that this pathetic regulation be rejected by Pro Bodybuilders – after all they have to buy their Pro Cards; they are not paid by the IFBB? This rule would be considered illegal in the European Union – you cannot prevent a man or woman from earning his or her living. No doubt the world outside of the USA will eventually find out what is going on but the IFBB treats its athletes appallingly and has done so for many years. Perhaps, as Ben Weider continues his junketing around the world he may give thought to the fact that without Bodybuilders he is nothing.

Pro Bodybuilders now have Shawn Ray as their official representative in the corridors of power. Craig Titus and quite a few others are not happy with Shawn Ray in this position and I wonder how many non-American Bodybuilders were even told, let alone consulted on the matter of his selection.

Train Hard and be strong.
Mick Hart.

“For anyone considering steroid use” This is a MUST READ…
Layman’s Guides to Steroids I and II

WARNING: Do not read this unless you are ready to gain some serious lean muscle…
Layman’s Guides to Steroids III (new)

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