IFBB Pro League & NPC vs. IFBB Amateur & International

[TK]

Oh boy

[TTfit]

So if you win at an NPC qualifier you are not given your pro card to compete in the IFBB? Or am I misunderstanding?

[Kwon]

Is this what they call a perpetual "shots fired" situation?

[6 Reps]

Looks to me like Manion is trying to screw some NPC contest promoters out of giving out Pro cards.  Am I understanding this correctly?

[dearth]

Looks to me like Manion is trying to screw some NPC contest promoters out of giving out Pro cards.  Am I understanding this correctly?

No, Manion is tired of Rafael Santoja and the IFBB amateur (the defacto international group)

Manion is screwing amateurs internationally. He claims that they can obtain pro status from the IFBB international tours. This is a farce. Manion has discounted the bodybuilding expertise of the entire international community.

The IFBB "pro league" (a term invented only about 15 years ago) was always a U.S. enterprise.

[Disgusted]

Isn't the North American an IFBB show?

[6 Reps]

Isn't the North American an IFBB show?

Yes, but, it's an NPC contest too?  I was just there a couple of weeks ago for part of it.  They gave out a 152 Pro cards.  Manion was there, running around.

[Disgusted]

Yes, but, it's an NPC contest too?  I was just there a couple of weeks ago for part of it.  They gave out a 152 Pro cards.  Manion was there, running around.

So the name will change and that's about it.

[6 Reps]

Here is Dave Palumbo's explanation.  Sounds to me like a power struggle between Manion and the Raphael guy head of the IFBB.

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

Also sounds like they'll have to come with some new names for the organizations.

I bet Joe and Ben would not be pleased.

[Disgusted]

No, Manion is tired of Rafael Santoja and the IFBB amateur (the defacto international group)
Manion is screwing amateurs internationally. He claims that they can obtain pro status from the IFBB international tours.
This is a farce. Manion has discounted the bodybuilding expertise of the entire international community.

the IFBB "pro league" (a term invented only about 15 years ago) was always a U.S. enterprise.

Who owns the IFBB Pro League? So when the Pro League came into existence the all the Pro shows basically became the property of the Pro L.?

So in actuality the IFBB at least in the USA was killed off and Jim Manion and the PL started overseeing them?

[dearth]

Isn't the North American an IFBB show?

the IFBB North American is afflicated with the IFBB in name only.
It has been under the auspices of the NPC for a long time.
The score cards and judges are all from NPC.

Basically Manion will not allow an international group to come to his jurisdiction and run the show, even if it is the IFBB.

[TK]

It has been long rumored that amateur athletes around the world, in order to get an IFBB Pro Card to compete in the IFBB Pro League, needed either to 'pay' up or have their countries representative approve it, and pay up.   It is also rumored that at the IFBB Amateur championships, they entry fee given by the countries for the athletes are given to the IFBB Amateur organization, not the promoters.

Too often, competitors cannot turn pro even though they have won a lot of events in the NPC, because the country they were born in would not let them.  These competitors also could not compete in any NPC show that could of given them a pro card.

This is about money, and fairness for these competitors, and these two presidents just could not come to terms.

The question is what happens to the Arnold Classic outside of the US, as well as other events.

[dearth]

It has been long rumored that amateur athletes around the world, in order to get an IFBB Pro Card to compete in the IFBB Pro League, needed either to 'pay' up or have their countries representative approve it, and pay up.   It is also rumored that at the IFBB Amateur championships, they entry fee given by the countries for the athletes are given to the IFBB Amateur organization, not the promoters.

Too often, competitors cannot turn pro even though they have won a lot of events in the NPC, because the country they were born in would not let them.  These competitors also could not compete in any NPC show that could of given them a pro card.  This is about money, and fairness for these competitors, and these two presidents just could not come to terms. The question is what happens to the Arnold Classic outside of the US, as well as other events.

There is just as much corruption outside the USA (IFBB amateur) as there inside the USA (NPC - Manion's). When you have many different foreign governments having a say in sports, this is inevitable. In the case of the NPC, you have a president for life who does things his way..

With regard to the International Arnolds, the IFBB pro league will hold amateur pro qualifying events as well. This is supposed to take the place of the IFBB amateur contents where international athletes used to turn pro - Dorian Yates, Milos Sarcev, JP Fux, Markus Ruhl, Ahmad Haidar, Big Ramy, etc....

[Tarantula157]

Now,after the insult of gifting the bubble gut Phil a 7th title and tying his record Arnold should split with Manion's IFBB Pro Legue and stay with Santoja's IFBB International and form another Pro League where he can do his Arnold Classics. Looks like Manion,Weinberger and co don't listen to his advises to penalise bottle shaped guts,so why stay with them?

[TheAnimal]

So now there is going to be two IFBB professional leagues?

Those pro contests with the pro qualifiers don't indicate they are going to be invite only because the memo says "will be open to ALL amateur athletes worldwide".

Wouldn't this make the pro contests far too long to have a pro qualifer amateur division AND a pro show on the same day?

[Simple Simon]

Yes, but, it's an NPC contest too?  I was just there a couple of weeks ago for part of it.  They gave out a 152 Pro cards.  Manion was there, running around.

FFS....

[Evo]

FFS....

I know, probably more in that one show that were given out in Europe in the last decade!

[jwb]

Eric Weider gets to decide what is what. He inherited the whole thing from Ben Weider.

[Ron]

From Robin Chang, and I agree with him...

Now that the 2017 Olympia Weekend is behind us, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and address some of the rumors and lies that has been posted online.

The following are my opinions and in no way reflect those of the IFBB Professional League, the NPC and American Media, Inc.

* There is only ONE IFBB Professional League.

* The same IFBB Professional League that has sanctioned the Olympia Weekend and the Arnold Classics around the world the past 13 years.

* The same IFBB Professional League that has increased prize money for the athletes from $1.3 million in 2005 to $4.1 million in 2016

* The same IFBB Professional League that had 15 pro contests in 2005, and GREW THE SPORT to 108 pro contests worldwide in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, North America, South America, Africa and throughout Europe.

* The same IFBB Professional League with the sole authority to grant IFBB Professional League status to athletes and judges, and to sanction IFBB Professional League contests worldwide.

* The same IFBB Professional League that has helped hundreds of amateur athletes around the world turn pro, despite their National Federation’s effort to keep them as amateurs.

* The IFBB Professional League is the ONLY path to IFBB Pro status through its Pro Qualifiers. These Pro Qualifiers will be open to all amateur athletes from ANY organizations around the world. Amateur athletes are now free to compete wherever they wish without fear of penalty or suspension.

* The IFBB Professional League does NOT operate under an antiquated system with ridiculous rules, restrictions, and sanctions that no longer apply to the current competitive climate.

* The IFBB Professional League is NOT associated/affiliated with the IFBB, or its so-called “Elite Pro.”

Just as our founding fathers, Joe and Ben Weider entrusted me/AMI/David Pecker with the Olympia Weekend, they entrusted the IFBB Professional League and their legacy to Mr. Jim Manion.

Just a reminder...before the IFBB Professional League decided to separate itself from the IFBB, what did the IFBB offer their athletes? Ask yourself this, “ What is the IFBB offering you now WITHOUT the IFBB Professional League?"

This is an exciting time for ALL athletes involved in our beloved sport. Don’t let the lies and propaganda mislead you. If your dream is to turn professional and one day step on the Olympia stage, there’s only one choice, and that’s the IFBB PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE!

[Disgusted]

Hey Ron, before the IFBB Pro League who was running the Olympia?

[TK]

It already has begun - NPC Musclecontest has and will go international - expect this to occur all over the world with promoters fed up with the IFBB Amateur tactics.

"Musclecontest International has 4 expos planned for 2018: Philippines, Brazil, India and Vietnam"

[TheAnimal]

So does anyone have any info on what the disagreements where between the IFBB professional league and the IFBB amateur league?

[jude2]

It already has begun - NPC Musclecontest has and will go international - expect this to occur all over the world with promoters fed up with the IFBB Amateur tactics.

"Musclecontest International has 4 expos planned for 2018: Philippines, Brazil, India and Vietnam"

Yep you are correct. Now the NPC will go world wide and give out pro cards.  Bob Chic is even promoting 3 shows next year in the UK giving out pro cards.  It use to be very hard to get a pro card in the UK.

[Ron]

Hey Ron, before the IFBB Pro League who was running the Olympia?

Wayne DeMilia on the behalf of the Weiders, I think.

Yep you are correct. Now the NPC will go world wide and give out pro cards

I am sure a lot of details will come out after the Arnold Europe and before the first pro show (I think San Marino).  Looks like promoters around the world will start IFBB Pro League qualifier contests, as well as NPC promoters (aka Musclecontest).  Competitors not born in the US want a chance to turn pro, and some countries made it very very hard for them to do so. This will give them their chances.

I know quite a few that should of turned pro, but could not because the country they were born in would not let them unless the paid, or competed in that country to get a pro card, even though they have lived in the US for years, or another country.

[Disgusted]

Wayne DeMilia on the behalf of the Weiders, I think.

I am sure a lot of details will come out after the Arnold Europe and before the first pro show (I think San Marino).  Looks like promoters around the world will start IFBB Pro League qualifier contests, as well as NPC promoters (aka Musclecontest).  Competitors not born in the US want a chance to turn pro, and some countries made it very very hard for them to do so. This will give them their chances.

I know quite a few that should of turned pro, but could not because the country they were born in would not let them unless the paid, or competed in that country to get a pro card, even though they have lived in the US for years, or another country.

So I'm guess Eric Weider gave up control?