akn
Musclechemistry Member
Craig in your opinion, what is wrong with the sport of bodybuilding in today’s day and age? What could people be doing that would make it a better sport for everyone and are shows really fixed?
The biggest and most prevalent problem in the sport of bodybuilding & fitness to this very day is…people are allowed to judge who have vested interest with athletes who are on stage competing. Judges who own supplement companies, or clothing companies or publishing companies should not be able to judge shows where their endorsed athletes are competing on stage.
This should not happen for obvious reasons but it goes on at every IFBB and NPC competition. Ok, so maybe it’s not fair for me to say every competition, but it was going on in every competition I competed in. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I was unfairly judged, I certainly didn’t have a winning physique, but I’ve witnessed countless instances where competitors were not rewarded with a win or higher placing due to the fact they were not signed with the right company. And don’t even get me started on JM Management and how its female fitness athletes are always rewarded whether deserving or not…it’s ridiculous!! Anyone reading this article who’s involved with the NPC or IFBB know full well this problem exists, it’s a fact, it’s not arguable, it’s so blandly obvious and no one speaks up to change or fix the problem. The other problem, and equally frustrating is that the IFBB & NPC does not allow their athletes to compete in other organizations or federations limiting the exposure and opportunity for those competitors who don’t place in the top spots. Not everyone has a physique like Ronnie Coleman or jay Cutler or Dexter Jackson but they do however have the ability to place well in other federations, in other countries opening the door to opportunities for financial gain. I mean a bodybuilder or fitness athlete is obligated to purchase a yearly membership card for both the NPC and IFBB…so what’s wrong with these athletes purchasing other membership cards in other federations? Nothing! Wayne DeMelia, the former IFBB president tried to start with another federation but bodybuilders feared being black listed from the IFBB, so it failed. I believe Lee Priest and a few others were suspended for jumping over and competing. Point is, if athletes were allowed to compete in multiple federations it would open the door to so many more opportunities for financial gain…period. Let’s face it, only a handful of bodybuilders and fitness athletes make any kind of real money. Most are broke having to sell their posing trunks and swim suits online to worshippers, or having to resort to sexual acts for payment. So what could be done to make it a better sport for everyone? First, change the criteria and rules for people becoming judges…number one rule being a judge cannot under any condition have a vested interest in athletes competing. Second, athletes made up of IFBB pro’s should form a 12 person independent judging panel to oversee competitors and make sure the decisions by current judges are fair and no corruption is taking place. Furthermore, this panel should have the power to file appeals on any blatant judging mistakes, working directly with the IFBB to change the outcome of contests if agreed upon. This panel would absolutely eliminate any discrepancies in the placing of competitors. The Olympic committee allows for appeals, and there’s no reason the IFBB judges shouldn’t be held accountable as well. Are shows really fixed? You better believe it!! The first show that pops in to my mind was the 2002 GNC show of Strength where Gunther beat Ronnie Coleman for the title…no friggen way should that have happened. Ronnie was the current Mr. Olympia and rumor was the powers to be (Weider) were not pleased with him competing in any other shows besides the Olympia, Joe Weiders shows. Who really knows what the truth is…what I do know is Gunter at his best and Ronnie at his worst should have NEVER beaten Ronnie!! The lists of fixed shows are endless both in bodybuilding and fitness. You know this to be true otherwise you wouldn’t have asked the question in the first place. I’m a firm believer of an independent panel to oversee judges in the IFBB. The next time you go to a IFBB or NPC bodybuilding and or fitness completion, pay attention to who the big money sponsor is, look at placing with a open mind and you’ll see what’s really going on.
The biggest and most prevalent problem in the sport of bodybuilding & fitness to this very day is…people are allowed to judge who have vested interest with athletes who are on stage competing. Judges who own supplement companies, or clothing companies or publishing companies should not be able to judge shows where their endorsed athletes are competing on stage.
This should not happen for obvious reasons but it goes on at every IFBB and NPC competition. Ok, so maybe it’s not fair for me to say every competition, but it was going on in every competition I competed in. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I was unfairly judged, I certainly didn’t have a winning physique, but I’ve witnessed countless instances where competitors were not rewarded with a win or higher placing due to the fact they were not signed with the right company. And don’t even get me started on JM Management and how its female fitness athletes are always rewarded whether deserving or not…it’s ridiculous!! Anyone reading this article who’s involved with the NPC or IFBB know full well this problem exists, it’s a fact, it’s not arguable, it’s so blandly obvious and no one speaks up to change or fix the problem. The other problem, and equally frustrating is that the IFBB & NPC does not allow their athletes to compete in other organizations or federations limiting the exposure and opportunity for those competitors who don’t place in the top spots. Not everyone has a physique like Ronnie Coleman or jay Cutler or Dexter Jackson but they do however have the ability to place well in other federations, in other countries opening the door to opportunities for financial gain. I mean a bodybuilder or fitness athlete is obligated to purchase a yearly membership card for both the NPC and IFBB…so what’s wrong with these athletes purchasing other membership cards in other federations? Nothing! Wayne DeMelia, the former IFBB president tried to start with another federation but bodybuilders feared being black listed from the IFBB, so it failed. I believe Lee Priest and a few others were suspended for jumping over and competing. Point is, if athletes were allowed to compete in multiple federations it would open the door to so many more opportunities for financial gain…period. Let’s face it, only a handful of bodybuilders and fitness athletes make any kind of real money. Most are broke having to sell their posing trunks and swim suits online to worshippers, or having to resort to sexual acts for payment. So what could be done to make it a better sport for everyone? First, change the criteria and rules for people becoming judges…number one rule being a judge cannot under any condition have a vested interest in athletes competing. Second, athletes made up of IFBB pro’s should form a 12 person independent judging panel to oversee competitors and make sure the decisions by current judges are fair and no corruption is taking place. Furthermore, this panel should have the power to file appeals on any blatant judging mistakes, working directly with the IFBB to change the outcome of contests if agreed upon. This panel would absolutely eliminate any discrepancies in the placing of competitors. The Olympic committee allows for appeals, and there’s no reason the IFBB judges shouldn’t be held accountable as well. Are shows really fixed? You better believe it!! The first show that pops in to my mind was the 2002 GNC show of Strength where Gunther beat Ronnie Coleman for the title…no friggen way should that have happened. Ronnie was the current Mr. Olympia and rumor was the powers to be (Weider) were not pleased with him competing in any other shows besides the Olympia, Joe Weiders shows. Who really knows what the truth is…what I do know is Gunter at his best and Ronnie at his worst should have NEVER beaten Ronnie!! The lists of fixed shows are endless both in bodybuilding and fitness. You know this to be true otherwise you wouldn’t have asked the question in the first place. I’m a firm believer of an independent panel to oversee judges in the IFBB. The next time you go to a IFBB or NPC bodybuilding and or fitness completion, pay attention to who the big money sponsor is, look at placing with a open mind and you’ll see what’s really going on.
