It is a pity that we need guys like Bob. I have no beef with him. It is the pro IFBB division that sucks. If the IFBB ran things according to Ben's vision things would be fine. Somehow he lost control and now look at the sport.
I own a gym and have been a PE teacher. I know what the public thinks about bodybuilders. Recently a member won the natural Mr Australia and he had no trouble getting exposure in the local newspaper. They did a full cover colour photo of him on Australia Day a few months ago plus a story. The public will accept natural champions. The open guys are impressive and huge. Everyone is impressed but there is no envy because of the drugs, etc.
If and when the sport reclaims its health and fitness image we will find a totally different public perception and the men and women will be celebrated instead of criticized.
Howie should be able to see this. I know others do. It is not good enough to keep our collective heads in the sand and accept the inevitability of using steroids and goodness knows what else.
Doctor John Ziegler apparently helped Ciba develop Dianabol. The sport has never been the same since. Even Doctor John walked away from the bodybuilders and weightlifters when they exceeded his protocols. People will alway look for an advantage and some will take risks. In the old days everyone was afraid of taking dangerous hormones. Nowadays even schoolboys take steroids. It took me 11 years to try Dianabol and that wasn't something I was proud of. Today I know enough about training that I don't need drugs to get as big or bigger than I was in the 1970s. People believe we need drugs to get really great physiques and that is clearly false. The women do benefit more from testosterone and its derivitives.
If this board represents the culture then nothing is going to change and that is a pity. Bob plods on and accepts the drugs because he is part of the culture. There is enough science known to bypass dangerous drugs. Equipment has evolved to be very effective. All we need is the motivation to do it naturally and be rewarded for all that hard work.
I know I was not going to post any more crap related to drugs, but, since you wrote such a thoughtful pc , here goes.
Mr Basile, I sincerely enjoy reading your posts. I may not always agree with every argument , but I admire your idealistic thoughts . I know what you mean about media coverage with natural champs. The 1994 NPC Ironman natural was the only contest every shown on mainstream sports media in Louisiana. I was lucky enough to win and got a short spot on the Baton Rouge state based news. The last natural show SNBF here in Marietta Ga was an actual sell out. I was shocked and even went inside and felt it was a mistake until the actual promoter came out and told a bunch of us, sorry, it was sold out.
Bodybuilding is unlke any other sport in terms of steroid use. Name one hall of fame player in baseball that didn't use roids? * you can name plenty! Now name one Mr Olympia or guy that placed (top 6) in the Olympia that competed clean? I can't think of one , can you? Top physiques have always been linked with roid use and the culture of the sport does not know any other way, (for the most part).
Bob Chic is correct to think that pushing for a fully drug tested pro div would NOT be a wise move for the IFBB.
It is a pretty big gamble on that level and one that I wouldn't want to take. It is one thing to talk ideals,and another to have to promote $$$ an event and get sponsers, etc.
I will continue to attend , support and enjoy IFBB pro events .
I only hope the guys use enough "good sense" and don't end up in the hospital or jail.
Howard
