I read the thread on Anabolex. There are two issues here but I am on Lee's side in the dispute. There seems to be a moral issue about whether former champions can compete against lower amateurs. Well, that really depends on what the rules are. According to what Lee says about NABBA he should be allowed to compete now as an amateur. He is no longer a professional bodybuilder.
The bodybuilders who have enterred the contest in Darwin were doing so under the impression that Lee Priest was going to be guest posing. The whole thing became a problem when we discovered that the promoters and Lee had an agreement with Graeme Lancefield but not with each other. I suggest that only Graeme can sort this out and it shouldn't be discussed on the internet.
The promoter should have contacted Lee and got a clear agreement signed with him. That way you don't risk having problems like this. Besides, the promoter has to follow the rules of NABBA and not impose his own rules. It matters not if the promoter feels Lee shouldn't be enterring the amateur division. That is irrelevant. Do the rules allow it or not? That is the question that needs to be settled not opinions about fairness, etc.
In sports like Track and Field guys can compete in open contests even if they are current or former Olympic champions. In bodybuilding we have open contests for just these people. We have divisions for novices, older guys, young lads and so on. I remember the time Sergio Oliva enterred the IFBB Mr America contest held around 1966 or 67. He didn't win the AAU Mr America and wanted the title. The competitors weren't pleased that he was allowed to enter the show. Sergio did get that trophy and title and also won their Mr Universe title that day. Well, if someone else had won the Mr America title he would have been allowed to enter the Mr Universe contest.
