The problems I saw with natural contets.

[Howard]

Natural , drug free bodybuilding sanctions have come and gone over the years I've been into bodybuilding.

1.One of the biggest issues I had is the obsession many of them have with any/all drug use.
To many in the natty movement, ANY drug use is a sin and should be banned for life. For example, I'm 57 and use HRT legally prescribed and monitored by my doctor.
 I think that extreme drug use is crazy and results in  a circus freak physique.
Both extremes are pretty bad , but the holier then thou, moral "natty"  crusaders really bugged me.

2. The vast majority of natural contests are smaller "mom and pop" events.
No natural contests are the size and level of the ARNOLD or Olympia. Former Mr Natural Olympia winner John Hansen said that the natural O was held in a truck stop banquet room.
I think most bodybuilder types think natural = small and swimmer like build. Which leads to...

3. Too many natural guys often use "drug free" as an excuse to suck.
Skip Lacour felt this was the worst aspect of the natural movement and the biggest obstacle to it's growth / success. Why would anyone want to see a show with lousy looking physiques.
For some being clean means you didn't do everything possible to look your best. That should be changed and one should think, I'll build a ripped, muscular,  albeit more realistic body.

4. Too much focus was on steroid use and not on the bodybuilding. Drug use enhances one's physique and no reasonable person will dispute that. BUT, it's just one aspect of the sport. Take away drugs and you still have all the training, diet and legal supplements.

In my opinion , getting rid of the extreme drug use can be done more by strict judging standards then by drug testing .

[Victor VonDoom]

No one wants to see a natural contest.  A huge part of bodybuilding is the "freak factor" or otherwise seeing something you haven't seen before or rarely see (size, definition, etc).  Only big pros can offer that.  If the competitors on stage look smaller than guys in your average gym, no one will want to see them.

Pro bodybuidling itself is a niche sport... so even fewer people are going to be interested in the "natural" version of it.

"Natural" competitors are always suspect.  Most people who work out and eat right know how a body responds to training. So when we see someone in a natural show with size that unnatural guys don't regularly achieve the whole thing becomes a mockery.  People are only willing to play the denial game to a certain point.

If you are 57 and on HRT then you are not natural and do not belong in any natural show.

Bah!

[njflex]

THIS is it in a nutshell,,any npc sanctioned drug free contest that has a 1yr clean /polygraph event is littered with uses/former uses/and people who use all yr and go clean to pass the test ...the other feds that are more like 7 yr or more drug free might be better but still has leeway for someone to skate unless there is a urine test after the fact...

[TheShape.]

Nobody wants to see a natural show because when naturals get as lean as drug users they tend to look dried up and flat. If you're going to hold a natural contest, contestants shouldn't come in as lean and conditioned but not sloppy either.

[MAXX]

you think Skip is natural and you've been in this game for how long?

facepalm...

[local hero]

Nobody wants to see a natural show because when naturals get as lean as drug users they tend to look dried up and flat. If you're going to hold a natural contest, contestants shouldn't come in as lean and conditioned but not sloppy either.

You mean like a dad bod, for optimal health and size?

[Howard]

No one wants to see a natural contest.  A huge part of bodybuilding is the "freak factor" or otherwise seeing something you haven't seen before or rarely see (size, definition, etc).  Only big pros can offer that.  If the competitors on stage look smaller than guys in your average gym, no one will want to see them.

Pro bodybuidling itself is a niche sport... so even fewer people are going to be interested in the "natural" version of it.

"Natural" competitors are always suspect.  Most people who work out and eat right know how a body responds to training. So when we see someone in a natural show with size that unnatural guys don't regularly achieve the whole thing becomes a mockery.  People are only willing to play the denial game to a certain point.

If you are 57 and on HRT then you are not natural and do not belong in any natural show.

Bah!

1. I haven't competed since 1995 and would not enter a natural contest since I use HRT.
I think one should honestly try to adhere to the basic rules of any sport they compete in.

2. You hit upon the basic theme that natural is often considered 2nd rate.

[Howard]

you think Skip is natural and you've been in this game for how long?

facepalm...

I think Skip competed without the use of steroids or HGH. I've been involved in bodybuilding for 38 years.
I competed over 40 times , judged at least 100 shows and even promoted a few.

[Howard]

THIS is it in a nutshell,,any npc sanctioned drug free contest that has a 1yr clean /polygraph event is littered with uses/former uses/and people who use all yr and go clean to pass the test ...the other feds that are more like 7 yr or more drug free might be better but still has leeway for someone to skate unless there is a urine test after the fact...

Your thoughtful and honest post  illustrates one of the biggest problems with natural contests.
The only bodybuilders to be thought natural must be small and not too impressive.
This thinking is all too common by the majority of bodybuilders.

Once the majority think drugs are the end all/be all , then drug free contests are doomed.

 I don't think drug testing is an effective solution. Nobody has confidence in it.
Far better to have strict judging standards that reward the best overall physique.

[Grape Ape]

Your thoughtful and honest post  illustrates one of the biggest problems with natural contests.
The only bodybuilders to be thought natural must be small and not too impressive.
This thinking is all too common by the majority of bodybuilders.

Once the majority think drugs are the end all/be all , then drug free contests are doomed.

 I don't think drug testing is an effective solution. Nobody has confidence in it.
Far better to have strict judging standards that reward the best overall physique.

None of it will matter.

Those who like this stuff are a minimal subset of the population.  People do not care about bodybuilding.

[Red Hook]

Howard, you are on HRT and still look like dog shit?    someone is selling you fake stuff "brah"

[Deacon Jeschin]

1. I haven't competed since 1995 and would not enter a natural contest since I use HRT.
I think one should honestly try to adhere to the basic rules of any sport they compete in.

2. You hit upon the basic theme that natural is often considered 2nd rate.

It's not so much second rate as it is a totally different event....contest, etc.

In baseball, for instance, a player with natural ability who works hard to achieve greatness will outproduce an average player who discovers gas. I would think most sports are like that. Not all, but most.

In bodybuilding, you take two equally gifted, equally trained people and put one on as little as a few cycles, the difference would be like night and day.

[Howard]

Howard, you are on HRT and still look like dog shit?    someone is selling you fake stuff "brah"

LOL,    ya  I LOOK like a pc of bloated shit now.
That's a basic fact along with your mom's farts SMELL like shit.
I get real ANDROGEL directly from the pharmacy via legal script and blood work each yr.

The reason I look like shit is due to my shitty diet.

[TheShape.]

You mean like a dad bod, for optimal health and size?

Yes, I think the ideal physique for the contest would look like Leonardo dicaprio

[Waller]

Seeing a natural contest is the problem.

[Fortress]

Skip, natural? LOL. About as natural as an erect cock being jammed into another male's ass.

Drug-free bodybuilding is ridiculous. To achieve a large amount of muscle mass and then keep it while dieting away all bodyfat is essentially impossible without gear.

As my best friend says, natural bodybuilding contests are "ab shows".

[Simple Simon]

Natural , drug free bodybuilding sanctions have come and gone over the years I've been into bodybuilding.

1.One of the biggest issues I had is the obsession many of them have with any/all drug use.
To many in the natty movement, ANY drug use is a sin and should be banned for life. For example, I'm 57 and use HRT legally prescribed and monitored by my doctor.
 I think that extreme drug use is crazy and results in  a circus freak physique.
Both extremes are pretty bad , but the holier then thou, moral "natty"  crusaders really bugged me.

2. The vast majority of natural contests are smaller "mom and pop" events.
No natural contests are the size and level of the ARNOLD or Olympia. Former Mr Natural Olympia winner John Hansen said that the natural O was held in a truck stop banquet room.
I think most bodybuilder types think natural = small and swimmer like build. Which leads to...

3. Too many natural guys often use "drug free" as an excuse to suck.
Skip Lacour felt this was the worst aspect of the natural movement and the biggest obstacle to it's growth / success. Why would anyone want to see a show with lousy looking physiques.
For some being clean means you didn't do everything possible to look your best. That should be changed and one should think, I'll build a ripped, muscular,  albeit more realistic body.

4. Too much focus was on steroid use and not on the bodybuilding. Drug use enhances one's physique and no reasonable person will dispute that. BUT, it's just one aspect of the sport. Take away drugs and you still have all the training, diet and legal supplements.

In my opinion , getting rid of the extreme drug use can be done more by strict judging standards then by drug testing .

Nice work Howard, subtle trolling is the best.

[Simple Simon]

Skip, natural? LOL. About as natural as an erect cock being jammed into another male's ass.

Drug-free bodybuilding is ridiculous. To achieve a large amount of muscle mass and then keep it while dieting away all bodyfat is essentially impossible without gear.

As my best friend says, natural bodybuilding contests are "ab shows".

A lot more natural than trying to force a slack one in.

[Fortress]

A lot more natural than trying to force a slack one in.

 

[oldtimer1]

The truth is the sport of bodybuilding is based on drug use. If there were a way to have a magic wand making sure all contests are natural the sport would die out. No one wants to see real natural physiques after seeing drug bodybuilders.

[Tennisballz]

It takes 2-5 years of proper nutrition and training to reach your genetic potential or very close to it.  Guys look great and fairly muscular but there is no "oh my god that dudes huge!" Factor with anyone who's truly natural.  Natural competitions aren't even natural anyways.  They shouldn't even happen in my opinion.  Bottom line, even though they look good, no one wants to see 5'10 170 pound guys compete.  There's no draw for it and not much marketability.