Ronne Coleman never got 1st the NPC nationals . Nope, to turn pro he went to the 1991 IFBB world championships (aka Universe) and won the Hvy wt div there . How's that possible? Ok in 1991, the NPC nationals was used to select not only new pros , but the USA team to go the IFBB worlds.Since 1994 the NPC has the Team Universe for this.
Because the IFBB worlds is a urine drug tested event for roids, many of the top guys at the nationals would refuse to test, take the pro card and never go to the worlds. In descending order, ( 1st to lower in order) those that were at the nationals and willing to take a urine test would get selected for the team.
Coleman was the only Hvy wt in the top 10 to be willing to take the test in 1991 and he passed. I don't think he was even in the top 5 that year?

He was around 217 lbs and look ripped but no where as big and freaky as now.
He competed at 287 the last year he won (2005) which is 70 lbs bigger and still ripped.
Considering he gained 70 lbs of muscle AFTER turning pro ( as a full grown man), it is possible he was pretty much drug free when he first turned pro isn't it?
Howard