On 22nd May 2003, a Bodybuilder died. Scott Klein was found dead by his mother in his bed. The cause of death was cardio-vascular disease and kidney failure. It is possible that his death had nothing to do with bodybuilding, but as far as I am aware healthy 30 year old men don't tend to drop down dead with kidney failure unless through genetical problems and that wasn't the case here. I couldn't believe it when during the same week I heard that another great bodybuilder Tom Prince had fallen ill with ulcers and kidney problems.

One of the all time great bodybuilders Lee Priest was soon to announce with immediate effect his retirement from competition. It had already been rumoured that he had health problems in the past but it was hardly surprising with massive weight swings and an excessive intake of junk food. But anyway he said he was no longer interested in the sport because of what was happening to some great athletes and that in the end we only have our health and that some of the top bodybuilders didn't even have that.

Similarly Milos Sarchev retired from contests after the Hungarian GP on June 8th, when he finished 6th and failed to qualify for the 2003 Mr. Olympia. He also cited health reasons for giving up. Milos has been at the top level for many years and has probably competed in more Pro contests than any other bodybuilder, ever. He obviously enjoyed the competition and has come back after suffering serious injury with a rupture of the quadriceps in his right leg. Such mechanical type injuries can happen to anyone in any sport that pushes the body to the limits. But Milos has had direct experience of internal health risks associated with top level bodybuilding. He suffered an almost fatal embolism a year or two ago when he had a blood clot, caused by using Synthol, detach from an artery and cause a blockage in his lung.

So many more top level amateurs and professionals were admitting to major health problems. Orville Burke got injured during a photo shot in Olympia and as a result his shoulder and Elbow needed operating on. But due to his poor health, one medical team refused to operate, although another did, but only after getting a report and approval from a heart consultant. Orville went into a coma after kidney failure but slowly recovered although his bodybuilding career is over.

Mike Francois, a great physique until a few years ago suffered serious internal problems, which ended his career. Nasser el Sonbaty withdrew from the Night of the Champions 2003 in New York for health reasons and it is reported that his bodybuilding career is finished. Flex Wheeler has had his pro Card withdrawn for "health reasons" and it is rumoured that he may need a kidney transplant. Don Long, another top American, also required a kidney transplant - his sister had to give up a kidney to save him.

Ron Teufel, top American in the late 1970's has died at 45 years of age. Now, you can argue that all of these problems may have nothing to do with drugs. And in some cases you may be correct. But the overall picture of young men, the apparent epitome of strength, fitness and masculinity, who ought to be in glowing health - or at least not seriously unhealthy - is severely damaged when so many are having serious, life threatening and in some cases fatal illnesses.

I have talked about several drugs which aren't anabolic steroids, and are taken by competing bodybuilders but professionals are at the cutting edge of the game. These pros are very well connected with the drug gurus who are permanently looking out for new material which is able to push that freaky physique on just that bit further. These products are able to make that all important difference to muscle size and vascularity and not forgetting to mention the guru's added earning potential. These top pros need bodies with potent drug handling genetics in order to handle such high doses and complex drug cocktails over long periods of time.

The life of a pro is dictated by his sport and his income earning potential. The time for high earning at the top can be short [even if our Pro remains healthy] and the serious Pro wants to maximise his earnings in that short time. This means a life of competing - unless you are a special kind of showman, your earning potential soon starts to drop if you are not in front of the fans, regularly winning or placing high in contests - of training to be bigger and better next year, of appearing at exhibitions, giving seminars, grabbing star spots, etc. And for all of the last three you will be expected to be in decent shape; appearing as a lard ball is not an option. The consequence of all of this is a life of drug use year round. It is not healthy.

The pro body building scene isn't really what it's made out to be. Training is hard and those heavy weights lead to joint problems and in the modern day era heavy means heavy and injuries are high on the agenda. In addition we have a high food intake including high protein content which over works the digestive system, the kidneys and the liver. This deadly combination causes high blood pressure and accompanied by potent drug cocktails, the stress factor on the body organs is tremendous. The human body needs rest, but there's no rest for a pro bodybuilder.

American football is similar in a way to the high demands on the body. We have big guys training hard, kicking the shit out of each other and well the resulting serious injuries. Then there are the drugs although I can only guess what they take. The dosage level would be lower to that of bodybuilders and they definitely receive better medical assistance. Another big difference is that the American Football season only lasts 4 months allowing more time to rest.

Most of you who read my column will know that I am not opposed to the use of drugs and, like every real bodybuilding enthusiast; I want to see ever freakier physiques. But I do not want a single young man to kill himself trying to get just that bit freakier. Trying to draw the line anywhere is difficult. Once a genie is out of the bottle it is pretty well impossible to get it back in again. And the release occurred over 40 years ago.

I have faith in that bodybuilding won't turn into a lunatic freaks sport, consisting of a small number crazy guys with a self imposed death wish to become THE FREAK of the year. Maybe it has become this already? It is the old rockers motto incarnate. Live hard, die young and have a good looking corpse. On 22nd May 2003, Scott Klein died. Is death the only real future for the Bodybuilder?