On 22nd May 2003, a Bodybuilder died. Scott Klein was found dead in the early hours in his bed by his mother. Although he was a healthy 30 year old man, he died of cardio-vascular disease and kidney failure. Now this guy had no gentical illness, so as far as I am aware his death was not typical for someone of his age. And then just to top it all another great bodybuilder Tom Prince fell ill during the same week with Kidney problems and ulcers.
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.
Similarly Milos Sarchev retired from contests after the Hungarian GP on June 8th, when he finished 6th and failed to qualify for the 2003 Mr. Olympia. He also cited health reasons for giving up. Milos has been at the top level for many years and has probably competed in more Pro contests than any other bodybuilder, ever. He obviously enjoyed the competition and has come back after suffering serious injury with a rupture of the quadriceps in his right leg. Such mechanical type injuries can happen to anyone in any sport that pushes the body to the limits. But Milos has had direct experience of internal health risks associated with top level bodybuilding. He suffered an almost fatal embolism a year or two ago when he had a blood clot, caused by using Synthol, detach from an artery and cause a blockage in his lung.
It wasn't long before other top level amateurs and professionals started admitting to serious health problems. Orville Burke injured himself during a photo shot in Olympia resulting in his shoulder and Elbow needing to be operated on. As a result of his poor health, one medical team refused to operate, although another did, but only after receiving a report and approval from a heart consultant. Sadly Orville fell into a coma after kidney failure but slowly recovered although his bodybuilding career is over.
Then Mike Francois who had a great physique up until a few years back also suffered serious internal problems, resulting in the end of his career. Nasser el Sonbaty had to withdraw from the Night of the Champions 2003 in New York due to health problems and it is also believed that his career has come to an end. Then we have Flex Wheeler who has had his pro card withdrawn due to health problems and it was rumoured that he may need a kidney transplant. Another top American Don Long needed the help of his sister to save him when he had to have a kidney transplant.
Then there was a really top American bodybuilder Ron Teufel from the 70's who died at 45. We can no doubt argue the case that these examples are not necessarily drug related but it goes without saying that we are talking about young, strong and fit men who should be glowing with health. But I'm afraid that it's just not the case when so many become so seriously ill and sometimes even leading to fatal illness.
I have covered a number of drugs apart from anabolic steroids, which are taken by any competing bodybuilder but professionals are at the cutting edge of the game. These guys are well connected with the drug gurus who are always on the look out for new material that can push that freaky physique on just a bit more. These products can make the all important difference to muscle size and vascularity as well as to guru's earning potential. The top guys must possess bodies with potent drug handling genetics in order to handle such high doses and complex drug cocktails over long periods of time.
The life of a pro is dictated by his sport and his income earning potential. The time for high earning at the top can be short [even if our Pro remains healthy] and the serious Pro wants to maximise his earnings in that short time. This means a life of competing - unless you are a special kind of showman, your earning potential soon starts to drop if you are not in front of the fans, regularly winning or placing high in contests - of training to be bigger and better next year, of appearing at exhibitions, giving seminars, grabbing star spots, etc. And for all of the last three you will be expected to be in decent shape; appearing as a lard ball is not an option. The consequence of all of this is a life of drug use year round. It is not healthy.
Being a top level bodybuilder is not all roses. Hard training with heavy weights ultimately causes many joint problems and with the size of top men today, heavy means VERY heavy. Injuries are not unknown - they are to be expected. Then the consumption of huge amounts of food - particularly with high protein content - gives the digestive system, the kidneys and the liver plenty to do. Most men have continuously high blood pressure. And, finally, add the drugs cocktail. The total stress on the organs is massive. The body needs significant periods of rest from this. But for a pro bodybuilder, there is no rest.
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 of you who are familiar with my column will be quite aware that I am not against drug use and like any real bodybuilding enthusiast; I do want to see even freakier physiques. What I am against is young men killing themselves in the process. It is not easy to say where to draw the line, but I'm afraid to say that since this started forty or so 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?
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Find out here how to get massive, ripped, muscle gains... using safe methods with bodybuilding and steroid expert Mick Hart's best selling Layman's Guide To Steroids
Please Rate The Above Article From The Sports Category
Article Title: The Future of Bodybuilders (Part 3)
Not yet Rated
Syndicate Sports Related Articles Via RSS!
Subject to Orbitaloc.com's Publisher Terms of Service, you may reprint this
article on your own website, blog, and ezine. (English only) You may also syndicate
the article via Really Simple Syndication (RSS). It is free of charge.
Free Articles on Sports and Other FREE Content Article Topics
The preceeding is an informative article from the Sports category.
