Post by 1705total on Jun 11, 2005 19:09:12 GMT -5
In the latest issue of Flex magazine Peter McGough sites several recent untimely deaths within the sport of bodybuilding. He also sites several athletes whose careers were shortened by illness. While athletes like Mike Matarazzo and Tom Prince freely admit that their health problems were linked to their chemical usage, many McGough commented on cannot be proven. Sonny Schmidt died of cancer, Charles Durr died of an enlarged heart, and Mike Francios’ colitis has unknown causes that many, many people develop. Lumping all those athletes that he mentioned together and stating concern for the drug use in our sport is what is known as “irresponsible journalism.” McGough is trying to push a personal opinion regarding the “cleaning up” of the sport. Yet McGough has fallen short of suggesting drug testing.
This is somewhat of a turnaround for McGough. In the 90’s when MD went all natural and bashed the IFBB for not adhering to its drug enforcement policy, McGough was quick to defend his buddy Dorian Yates. McGough had even suggested that no one wanted to see a small aerobic guy in tights, that bodybuilders are unique athletes and should be studied not disdained for their efforts.
Well times have changed! The IFBB, has now sent out a memo saying big bellies and synthol will cause deductions at contest. Now most athletes are saying aesthetics will mean more. Really! Well lets wait and see. Just because an athlete doesn’t show a distended belly doesn’t mean that it will guarantee the athlete will look like the classic David sculpture. Now McGough has furthered his nonsense saying a change need to occur in our sport. “Its now time for a more sensible approach.” Classic physiques should be the rule!
Well here are my thoughts and I just happen to be a fan of the sport for the last 21 years. When I started training in 1984, Haney was king and Gaspari was up and coming. During the 80’s, Gaspari was routinely criticized for being boxy, but never showed a distended belly. Yet if he competed today he would be considered too small and probably considered symmetrical. Yes there is something definitely wrong in bodybuilding today. The other problem is the opinion that athletes that are aesthetically pleasing don’t abuse substances like the mass monsters. Please, as if! Lets look at 3 natural champions who won the team Universe to dispel this myth. Skip LaCour, Kai Green, and Greg Rando. All three have won that show. Kai is very symmetrical and pleasing, while Greg is very proportional, and Skip is built more Heruclean. Genetics play more of a role in the type of physique your likely to build, not what drugs you take.
My biggest problem with the IFBB memo is that it will accomplish nothing! The sport of bodybuilding is about progression! How can you tell bodybuilders not to develop muscle! Let me say I’m against distended bellies and synthol, but you don’t solve the problem buy saying don’t get too big. The athletes will always push themselves to be better and progress. You want healthier bodybuilders, DRUG TEST. You want more feminine women, DRUG TEST! No memo saying 20% reduction of muscle or no distended bellies will do that like drug testing will do. Drug free athletes today look as good as the pros did in the 70’s. Bodybuilding will still be marketable, and perhaps the supplement industry will even be more lucrative. So I hope the IFBB will do the right thing an start drug testing in the pros, women and men. However there is no hope for McGough’s hypocritical behavior.
This is somewhat of a turnaround for McGough. In the 90’s when MD went all natural and bashed the IFBB for not adhering to its drug enforcement policy, McGough was quick to defend his buddy Dorian Yates. McGough had even suggested that no one wanted to see a small aerobic guy in tights, that bodybuilders are unique athletes and should be studied not disdained for their efforts.
Well times have changed! The IFBB, has now sent out a memo saying big bellies and synthol will cause deductions at contest. Now most athletes are saying aesthetics will mean more. Really! Well lets wait and see. Just because an athlete doesn’t show a distended belly doesn’t mean that it will guarantee the athlete will look like the classic David sculpture. Now McGough has furthered his nonsense saying a change need to occur in our sport. “Its now time for a more sensible approach.” Classic physiques should be the rule!
Well here are my thoughts and I just happen to be a fan of the sport for the last 21 years. When I started training in 1984, Haney was king and Gaspari was up and coming. During the 80’s, Gaspari was routinely criticized for being boxy, but never showed a distended belly. Yet if he competed today he would be considered too small and probably considered symmetrical. Yes there is something definitely wrong in bodybuilding today. The other problem is the opinion that athletes that are aesthetically pleasing don’t abuse substances like the mass monsters. Please, as if! Lets look at 3 natural champions who won the team Universe to dispel this myth. Skip LaCour, Kai Green, and Greg Rando. All three have won that show. Kai is very symmetrical and pleasing, while Greg is very proportional, and Skip is built more Heruclean. Genetics play more of a role in the type of physique your likely to build, not what drugs you take.
My biggest problem with the IFBB memo is that it will accomplish nothing! The sport of bodybuilding is about progression! How can you tell bodybuilders not to develop muscle! Let me say I’m against distended bellies and synthol, but you don’t solve the problem buy saying don’t get too big. The athletes will always push themselves to be better and progress. You want healthier bodybuilders, DRUG TEST. You want more feminine women, DRUG TEST! No memo saying 20% reduction of muscle or no distended bellies will do that like drug testing will do. Drug free athletes today look as good as the pros did in the 70’s. Bodybuilding will still be marketable, and perhaps the supplement industry will even be more lucrative. So I hope the IFBB will do the right thing an start drug testing in the pros, women and men. However there is no hope for McGough’s hypocritical behavior.
