Home | Health & Fitness | Muscle Building
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. Lee Priest, who was a well known bodybuilder at the time, announced his immediate withdrawal from this competitive sport. It had always been rumoured that he had suffered poor health due excessive weight swings and his addiction to junk food. In an interview he said that he couldn't believe what was happening to some of the great bodybuilders out there and that if all we have is our health, some of those top guys 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. 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. 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. 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 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: Free Articles - http://www.articlesworldonline.com
Find out here how to get lean, muscled, symmetrical and beautifully shaped safely quickly and easily with Top Class Steroid & Bodybuilding Writer Mick Hart's highly acclaimed Layman's Guide To Steroids
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
# of Ratings = 1 | Rating = 5/5
