if the IFBB started rewarding the classic look and started penalizing the big guts and bloat; there would be no need for drug testing. all the crazy shit would be discontinued and guys would go back to hard work and diet, resulting in real looking muscle.
BINGO! Jim Manion actually tried to enforce this with the now infamous "belly ban " letter he wrote to all NPC officials a few years ago.
I hear the same ( the judges told me to get bigger to win" from various pros over the year at seminars.
Jay was told at 240 he would never win a big show and Ronnie was told to get a lot bigger when he turned pro, etc.
For whatever reason the IFBB judges expect size and reward the big freaky guys with the biggest titles in most years...go figure?