Chris Clark started selling the stuff commercially in 1996, doesn't mean it wasn't experimented with by some bodybuilders before that. Shawn most likely did not know what Flex had done at first, he might have suspected implants. Esiclene wasn't commonly used year round, it was a temporary inflammatory compound used just before stage. Are you saying that pic of Flex is post 1996, because Flex definitely has something in his calves there and it isn't Esiclene. Those pics of Manfred are from 94 at the latest, 2 years before SEO was "invented" according to you.
Some freak on here might know when those pics were taken.
I threw out all my old mags like 15 years ago so can't check.
We've discussed this before. And Chris Clark is on record during a Palumbo interview talking bout how he came up with it in 1996.
That pic of Flex is from about 95-96...since Flex broke his neck in 94, he was not competing and was in the hospital. So, looking at a time line of 95-96. After all, I think I am the one who brought people's attention to Flex's calves in that pic. Well, before bbing.com had that pic.
That "Halle Berry" haircut that Lenda has as well dates the pic to that time period. And Demayo competed in the 95 Mr. O. 95 was the first and only year he competed I believe. So, the time line fits. You have 3 pros wearing NPC gear, as this photo shoot was a NPC photo shoot---Flex, Lenda, and Demayo.
There have been multiple stories, from Flex and others that Flex and Levrone were the two main Esiclene users, and that they had literally depleted the supply of it.