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The Future Of Bodybuilders (Part 3) |
By:
Mick Hart |
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On 22nd May 2003, a Bodybuilder died. Scott Klein was found lying dead on his bed at 5.00am by his mother. He died of cardio-vascular disease and kidney failure. His death may have had absolutely nothing to do with bodybuilding, but 30 year old men do not die suddenly with kidney failure unless there is some known genetic weakness and, as far as I am aware, that was not the case here. In the same week that I heard about Scott Klein I read detailed reports of the illness of Tom Prince - another great bodybuilder - with ulcers and kidney problems.
One of the all time great bodybuilders Lee Priest was soon to announce with immediate effect his retirement from competition. It had already been rumoured that he had health problems in the past but it was hardly surprising with massive weight swings and an excessive intake of junk food. But anyway he said he was no longer interested in the sport because of what was happening to some great athletes and that in the end we only have our health and that some of the top bodybuilders didn't even have that.
Another bodybuilder Milos Sarchev also retired from competing after finishing 6th at the Hungarian GP and therefore failed to qualify for the 2003 Mr Olympia. But he too blamed poor health for his early retirement. Milos had been at the top for many years and had probably competed in more Pro contests than any other bodybuilder and had even come back after serious injury. But he had also suffered with internal health problems linked to top level bodybuilding and had suffered an almost fatal embolism a couple of years before when he had a blood clot, caused by using Synthol, detach from an artery and cause a blockage in his lung.
More and more top level amateurs and professionals were reporting or admitting to serious health problems. Orville Burke suffered an injury during a post-Olympia photo shoot and needed an operation on a shoulder and elbow. One medical team refused to work on him because of his poor health; another did so only after a report and approval from a heart consultant. Orville suffered serious problems during surgery resulting in kidney failure and his lapsing into a coma. He is still receiving treatment as he slowly recovers but his bodybuilding career is over.
Mike Francois who had an excellent physique up until a couple of years ago suffered serious internal problems as well, resulting in career coming to an end. Nasser el Sonbaty had to pull out of the Night of the Champions 2003 in New York due to health problems and it is said that his career has also come to an end. Another great Flex Wheeler had his pro card withdrawn because of health problems and it was rumoured that he may also need a kidney transplant. Another top American Don Long needed his sister's help to save him when he needed a kidney transplant.
Ron Teufel, top American in the late 1970's has died at 45 years of age. Now, you can argue that all of these problems may have nothing to do with drugs. And in some cases you may be correct. But the overall picture of young men, the apparent epitome of strength, fitness and masculinity, who ought to be in glowing health - or at least not seriously unhealthy - is severely damaged when so many are having serious, life threatening and in some cases fatal illnesses.
I have mentioned a number of drugs in addition to anabolic steroids, which are in the arsenal of any competition bodybuilder but professionals are at the cutting edge of the game. Each has contacts with one or many drug gurus who are always looking for some other product with potential for taking the freaky physique just that bit further. Such a product could be used to give their clients the extra edge in muscle size, condition, vascularity and increase the earning potential of the guru. The men at the top need bodies with awesome drug handling genetics to be able to tolerate a combination of high doses and a complex cocktail of drugs, over long periods.
A pro's life is controlled by his sport and his earning potential. There is a very limited time scale for high earning at the top so during this period a pro needs to maximise earnings, because once they start dropping down the rankings they must take radical steps to keep on course - more drugs over longer periods just to carry on competing at this level and this isn't healthy at all.
The pro body building scene isn't really what it's made out to be. Training is hard and those heavy weights lead to joint problems and in the modern day era heavy means heavy and injuries are high on the agenda. In addition we have a high food intake including high protein content which over works the digestive system, the kidneys and the liver. This deadly combination causes high blood pressure and accompanied by potent drug cocktails, the stress factor on the body organs is tremendous. The human body needs rest, but there's no rest for a pro bodybuilder.
American football is similar in a way to the high demands on the body. We have big guys training hard, kicking the shit out of each other and well the resulting serious injuries. Then there are the drugs although I can only guess what they take. The dosage level would be lower to that of bodybuilders and they definitely receive better medical assistance. Another big difference is that the American Football season only lasts 4 months allowing more time to rest.
Those readers who are familiar with my column will know that I am not against use of drugs and just like any other real bodybuilding enthusiast; I really do want to see even freakier physiques. But what I am against is young guys killing themselves in the process. It is difficult to say where the line should be drawn, but it goes without saying that since this all started forty years ago, NOTHING is going to stop us.
I really believe that bodybuilding won't just become a lunatic freaks sport, comprising of a couple of crazy guys with something similar to a self imposed death wish in order to become THE FREAK of the year. Perhaps it has become this already? It is the old rockers motto incarnate. Live hard, die young and have a good looking corpse. On 22nd May 2003, Scott Klein died. Is death the only real future for the Bodybuilder?
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article55561.html |
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