Ben Weider Retires

The President and supremo of the IFBB for the last 60 years has been Ben Weider.    Now at 83 [I think] years of age he has decided to hand over to a younger man. The job has passed to his long-term deputy Rafael Santonja from Spain.  Ben Weider announced his decision at the IFBB Congress in the Czech Republic at the end of October 2006.  It has just taken time for the word to filter through.  Ben Weider was not someone that I ever knew in any way whatsoever but he dedicated much of his time at the IFBB to trying to make Bodybuilding an Olympic sport — something that was always doomed to failure in these days of WADA and total oppostion to any form of performance enhancement.

More Freedom for IFFBB Pros?

Bob Cicherello, the current Athletes representative on the committee of the IFBB [in case you didn’t know] has proposed an ammendment, which, if passed, would give Pro Bodybuilders more freedom to take part in non-IFBB events — an offence currently punishable with a fine and suspension. His proposed amendment is as follows :

Amendment of section 1.7 of the Pro League rules.  Athletes WILL be allowed to make appearances on behalf of companies they represent and/or as individuals to : [including but nor limited to] non-sanctioned events, expos, guest posing, appearances, seminars, openings, etc.   As IFBB athletes are listed as “independent contractors” by our own IFBB bye-laws and therefore cannot be limited in their ability to make a living from being a professional.

Athletes would be required to be IFBB athletes in good standing, and any and all promotional items, advertisements, etc. linked to said event[s] would require that athlete be billed and represented as an IFBB athlete.

I will be surpised if this gets approved.  It would allow Pro Bodybuilders to appear at any show without any fear of reprisals.   In fact it follows closely European Law and I suspect that the current IFBB ruling is unenforceable in Europe.   If this were approved, we must assume that amateurs would ask for similar dispensations.

New American Muscle Mag

A new muscle magazine has appeared on the market in American called Caged Muscle.   The mag is aimed at the hard core market and has already signed up Dorian Yates as a writer among several others.  The first issue has a write up on UK bodybuilding Pro Ricky Welling.

Troy in Flex

The latest UK addition of Flex has an extended article on Troy Brown — his training and his competition successes.

Lee Priest Leaves PDI

Lee Priest told an interviewer at the Arnold Classic week-end that he has severed his ties with the PDI and wants to return to IFBB contests.  He wants to get an agreement that will allow him to enter the Pro Show in Atlantic city on September 14th/15th.

There will be another PDI Show in Lonfon in October but unless they can get some names that carry Lee Priest type weight, I am afraid that the PDI is doomed.

BritIsh GP 2007

Yet again there will be no IFBB BRitish GP in October. Kerry Kayes has said that the only possible date is the weekend of the UKBFF Finals, so a British GP is out of teh question

It seems that the IFBB not only tries to scupper other organisation’s shows it is perfectly capable of doing it to itself.

Kerry Kayes will be backing the Euro Elite Amateur Show again in Portsmouth in November — and this year you should not miss it.   Paul Smith is promising that it will be even better than last year.

p3

What do you think of the new physique sensation from Georgia, USA, Trey Brewer.    This man — still a “student” — has just won his first contest as an official adult.    All his previous wins were as a teenager.    At 5ft 11in and 270 lbs at the age of 21 he is some genetic freak.   As a college student he played both American Football and normal Football [soccer] and started going to the gym to gain size and power for American Football.   And then the gym owner suggested that he think about bodybuilding.  So he got to work and grew.    His legs were already huge and his upper body is now catching up. These pictures from the Muscular Development site and taken when he competed in the NPC Excalibur Show in Culver City — where he won the SHW and Overall titles.  Look on the MD site for more details and a couple of videos of Trey training and posing.  His trainer tells us that his legs grow whenever ”he looks at them kinda funny”.    It may be that they grow also because he squats with up to 750 lbs — which does seem sufficient for a 21 year old.

We can only wish him luck with his career — he won’t need much luck with his physique; it is only in staying injury free that he needs the luck.  A man as young as this using such big heavy weights is at risk of injury more than a seasoned bodybuilder with joints and tendons toughened by years of training — I was going to say years of misuse. Yea, that’s probably true.

Is Rocky A Natural?

What are we to think?  Sylvester Stallone was in Australia to promote his latest Rocky Film Rocky 95 and got into terrible trouble.   He arrived in a private jet along with an entourage of bodyguards, managers, marketing men, etc. but was detained for 2 hours at Australian Customs when an X-ray examination of his luggage revealed “prohibited items”.  It is alleged that further searches of his hotel rooms revealed the presence of human growth hormone [HGH] and steroids.    Investigations are continuing.  Australia believes that heavy fines and gaol are the only answer if possession of illegal substances like these is proved.   Perhaps, we can now expect Dolph Lundgren to demand a re-match.