https://www.evolutionofbodybuilding.net/arnold-classic-and-olympia-respond-to-washington-post-article/Arnold Classic and Olympia respond to Washington Post article.
In the Washington Post’s latest publication, Jim Manion responded to the claims of sexual exploitation against both his companies, the NPC and IFBB Pro League.
According to the Washington Post, Jim Manion, the leader of bodybuilding’s top federations, assured promoters who pay fees to host bodybuilding competitions that business would proceed as usual. This was his response in the aftermath of a a Washington Post investigation into the sexual exploitation of female contestants.
Last Tuesday’s story in The Post was based on interviews with 20 women who detailed their experiences with J.M. Manion, Jim Manion’s son and the official photographer for the NPC News Online website, including some who said J.M. encouraged them to pose nude. Over a 15-year span, J.M. operated a network of paid soft-core pornography websites that at one point advertised “over 30,000 images” of competitors in the sport, according to archived versions of the websites.
“Rest assured, this will not affect our organizations at all going forward,” the Manions wrote in an email sent to competition promoters from an NPC account and signed by Jim and his grandson, Tyler Manion, vice president of the two Pittsburgh-based federations, the amateur National Physique Committee and the IFBB Pro League. The email, obtained by Evolutionofbodybuilding.
net, said the articles were “unsubstantiated tales from unreliable sources” seeking to discredit the organization.
“J.M. MANION WILL NOT BE ATTENDING OUR SHOW”
Olympia LLC, Arnold Classic and show promoters respond to Washington Post Article.
Immediately after the article was published in the Washington Post, a number of NPC and Pro League promoters revealed their concern about these serious allegations.
The situation has reached the point that an official at the Arnold Classic confirmed J.M. Manion will not be attending the event.
According to the Washington Post, Brian Powers, executive director for the Arnold Sports Festival, which includes the Arnold Classic, said his organization has a zero-tolerance policy, and in light of recent reports, “we are developing enhanced measures to strengthen existing safety protocols.”
Another official, who spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because that person was not authorized to speak on the record said, “J.M. Manion will not be attending our show.”
In an email to The Post, the Olympia organization, which will hold its premier annual event in December, said it would address “any and all issues that could impact the culture and the integrity of the sport we love. We will continue to update you on these efforts in the weeks to come.”
L. Brent Jones and Richard Siegelman, two prominent NPC and Pro League promoters also revealed how concerned they are about this situation.
L. Brent Jones, who has run shows in Kentucky since 2002, sent a mass email with the subject line, “Why I resigned from the NPC and the IFBB Pro League,” that he resigned Oct. 17, a week before The Post published its investigation, over many of the issues covered in the story. “My reasons are simple,” he wrote in a mass email Thursday. “I am tired of the increased sexualization of the sport and the corruption.”
Approached during a show outside of Baltimore on Saturday, promoter Rich Siegelman called the allegations “disturbing” and said he had spoken to J.M., who was scheduled to be the photographer of the event, and that they had agreed that he would not come.
“These are some serious accusations and allegations, and they need to be taken seriously,” Siegelman said.
Read the full story: Built & Broken: Bodybuilding chief dismisses allegations of sexual exploitation
“ANY AND ALL ISSUES THAT COULD IMPACT THE CULTURE AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPORT WE LOVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU ON THESE EFFORTS IN THE WEEKS TO COME.” – OLYMPIA LLC.
Full Press Release from Olympia LLC
All of us here at the Olympia are grateful for the excitement surrounding this year’s event, but we’d like to take a moment to address the recent news items focused on the sport of bodybuilding.
We’ve been following these stories with great interest because one of our top priorities is to ensure the integrity of our event as well as maintaining an environment where everyone feels protected, especially the athletes who walk across our stage. In order to inspire a new generation of fitness enthusiasts it’s vital that we address any and all issues that could impact the culture and the integrity of the sport we love. We will continue to update you on these efforts in the weeks to come.
This press release was published across the entire media network owned by Olympia LLC owner Jake Wood.
Jim and Tyler Manion’s email to show promoters