Dear Bob,
I would hope you realize how much respect and admiration I have for you as an outstanding spokesman for our sport of bodybuilding. I find you to be quite intelligent, charismatic , yet down to earth.
I sincerely hesitate to write this as it risks putting you on the spot. Having said that , this is an open forum and I doubt anyone will take some Joe Blow like me very serious anyway.
You have said, that a bodybuilder has a "choice" between doing what needs to be done to compete ( drug use) or to retire. Obviously, some amount of various drugs must be taken by elite level bodybuilders to compete on a level playing field. Since most of this drug use violates the federal drug laws, the bodybuilder is really making a choice to break the drug laws to compete or retire.
In is my strong belief that NO pro or top amatuer athlete should have to risk breaking the law just to compete fairly.
We have seen the media circus with the various steroid hearings in baseball and other sports.No resaonble person that loved bodybuilding would want to see our sport dragged into that nightmare.
Also consider that extreme , unrestricted drug use has hurt female bodybuilder greatly. The top female bodybuilders may train hard and deserve our respect as bodybuilders, but the androgenic look from absurd level of hormones has destroyed any mainstream appeal it once enjoyed.Plus, I believe , 3 years ago, the DEA served several supeonas at the Arnold classic. Many top pros were called in and questioned.
I think we can both agree that when a NON bodybuilding government agency steps in, NOTHING good for bodybuilding will come of it.
You Bob ,are a pro bodybuilder and pro athletes rep. You have a voice and platform that a simple fan like me does not, that is why I am writting this to you. I was part of the AAU MR America Comm., when drug testing debacles and law suits that followed ended the Mr America for good, just a decade ago. I simply urge you Bob, to use your influence to try and bring some reason and sanity to this issue.
I am not sure what the exact solution is. But as lifetime fan of bodybuilding, I would hope that "something" positve can be done now, rather than wait for worst.
Thanks for being a great spokesman for our sport and I apologize if this was out of line on my part.
Sincerely, Howard White, Ga
PS/ I like bodybuilding and get big.com. If ya want to flame me , fine, I am a big boy and can take the heat.
I have decided NOT to leave the kitchen fellas.