Bat, I'm unable to answer yor question about the curent sanction or contract, but I do recall reading "memos" stating that participants must be current NPC or IFBB members in all NPC events.
You might want to ask Bob Chick for those details, but to the best of my knowledge all contestants and guest posers must be affiliated with the NPC or the IFBB. And that affiliation requirement just might even extend down to the MC and trophy presenters, but I am not sure about that last statement.
I tend to agree with this NPC/IFBB affiliation requirement for a number of reasons (saving this for a future post), but the legality of it could be on the borderline and a good opportunity for a lawyer to make lots of money.
It will be interesting if Lee pursues this, but the first step would be for an NPC promoter to invite an "outsider" to participate which I don't think any NPC member/promoter will do. Why make waves when the sea is rough enough in the first place?
I have to state once again, that I tend to agree with the IFBB/NPC policy regarding "outside participants" and this just might be an interesting topic to pursue.
Maybe Chick can help us out here.