Here are some FACTS based on actual experience. No hear-say! No scuttlebutt! No water fountain rumors! No bull-shit!
The athletes who competed for "cash" awards in Hawaii many years ago were in fact banned from NPC membership for an undisclosed period of time, but only in those cases in which complaints were made by other NPC athletes.
Some unknown NPC athletes who were not a major threat to "complaining athletes" may possibly have slipped under or over the "guarded gate", but the NPC does not actively patrol in any effort to ban any athlete for any reason unless a complaint is made by fellow athletes.
Second thought ..... No one wants a legal battle because in most cases, the only one who really wins are the participating attorneys.
In my own humble opinion, it might be best for the NPC to simply ignore competition from other bodybuilding organizations and continue to march with the present definition of the word "amateur" within their own affiliation without too much concern on how that term is used by others. Just don't recognize those athletes as "professional bodybuilders". Hell, you don't want to anyway.
Simply allow those athletes who have competed in outside organizations for "cash" awards" to continue to compete within the NPC with the understanding that they are no longer qualified to be considered for, nor to accept, an IFBB Pro Card regardless of how they place in an NPC qualifier.
This last statement is something to think about and could possibly be of benefit for all concerned. It might make more sense if you are familiar with the history of the NPC since its birth and a few years prior to that "blessed"event.
You guys would be in a MAJOR turmoil if we were still affiliated with the AAU.
