New IFPA Figure Pro, WNBF no more

This has been in the gossip columns of the fitness world for a few months now. Actually a few years, but I became involved a few months ago and it seemed to grow exponentially since then.

The WNBF has cut its own throat.

Most INBF amateur competitors are totally unaware of the very restrictive rules placed on competitors once they win a WNBF pro-card and sign that contract to compete as a WNBF Pro. For the most part it didn't affect me. I was happy competing in the small world and limited shows of the WNBF. Only four to choose from and at the time I had enough money to gallavant as I saw fit. No shows in Florida near where I live, so it cost $1,000 or more for each show, not counting new suits, shoes, maintaining hair and nails, supplements, etc.

However, as a figure competitor I saw the attention and exposure other IFBB pros like Monica Brant, Jenny Lynn, Jen Hendershott, and the like, were getting on the covers of all the fitness magazines, all the supplement company ads, doing signings and appearances at the Arnold and Olympia expos. And I wanted that! I was brainwashed into thinking that I could never do that because I am not jacked on juice. Then you look at the Fitness America and Bikini America competitors, who are softer and smaller in muscularity, and all the comparable exposure they get in the SAME magazines. And it got me thinking....

Then you see Alicia Marie Denson go from WNBF Figure Pro to Ms. Bikini Universe. Then you see Jelena Abbou go from WNBF Figure to IFBB Figure Pro. And I went from thinking to action.

I started marketing myself. I started submitting my photos to supplement companies and magazines....only to find out that I could only appear in a magazine other than the INBF/WNBF's magazine Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness if I had permission.

You mean I have to ask permission like mommy and daddy in my own grown adult fitness career? I have to ask permission in order to make money to pay the bills to compete in YOUR competitions?

The WNBF Pro contract is an exclusive contract, yet not a paid one like NFL or major league baseball. The WNBF makes money selling magazines to people who buy it to see my (and other competitors') photos, yet we never see a dime of it.

Part 2: Limited competition.

So if I can't make money in advertising and modeling can I at least compete more often so I have more chances (mind you I did not say OPPORTUNITIES because it is a crap shoot in the WNBF) to win money? Steve Downs' answer: No. I can not compete in other pro shows if I want to maintain my WNBF Pro-card. So that means only 4 shows per year that are spread out throughout the year. For a balls to the wall hard core competitor it is difficult to diet down and deplete water 4 separate times. None of the show are in close proximaty to each other. For a balls to the wall hard core competitor with health problems like surviving cancer it becomes even more crucial to not stress the body any more than I can. If I am smart I will choose to compete in a "season" of 4 or 5 months and then rest the other 7 or 8 months.

While this argument is going on between me and Steve Downs more shit is hitting the fan in other areas. Dave Goodin, the highest money-winning LEGENDARY WNBF bodybuilder, is published in IronMan magazine (August 2006) and talks up the WNBF an how awesome they are. He is also offered a monthly column. Dave is subsequently suspended from the WNBF for 3 years for appearing without permission....after he talked so highly of the WNBF. The pro competitors of the WNBF are OUTRAGED and in an UPROAR albeit very quietly and privately for fear of repercussions that if they support Dave it will affect their future placings. What bullshit huh? A letter of support is signed by 20 or 30 competitors, a handful of which are pros, and sent to the WNBF. Not to have Dave's suspension rescinded, but rather a statement of disgust that the WNBF does not deserve Dave Goodin. And they don't.

At the very same time two other female WNBF Pros are published in full articles and photos in other magazines, without daddy's permission, and are only admonished yet not suspended. Hmmmm.....so they favor women over the men, huh? Sexism?

Recently the WNBF sent out an addendum, or at least an updated contract, for all pros to sign. More restrictive than veteran pros had signed, so some of the restrictions are news to them. Now WNBF pros are not allowed to help out at other organizations shows, can't judge, expedidite, but can still guest pose as long as they aren't affiliated with the show in any other way. Can't appear in other magazine without permission, which to date I have not heard of anyone being granted permission. And I also heard from TWO very reputatble sources that it will be announced in November that no WNBF pro will be allowed to compete in ANY other organization's shows even as an amateur. Currently WNBF pros can still compete as amateurs in other org's shows like NGA, INBA, Fitness America, and OCB.

Speaking of OCB.....so what am I going to do, you ask?

I have been in deep discussion with Matt Shepley of the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders (OCB). From the VERY moment we met we started arguing passionately about competitor restrictions. At the time I was still aligned with the WNBF as this was only a couple weeks before the shit storm. I learned a thing or two from Matt and I learned to look at it from the perspective of other competitors and THEIR needs, not just my own. If I really wanted to contribute and help build natural bodybuilding I figured out that I had to look past my own wants and needs and learn what other competitors needed to fulfill their dreams on stage and in the fitness industry. I must also seek to unify the splintered factions of natural bodybuilding organizations by finding common ground and building upon it.

I was invited to compete as an IFPA Figure Pro (the pro division of the OCB). They recognize the pro cards of other drug tested organizations. I have accepted.

I will be competing October 7th in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. So is Dave Goodin.
If you are in the area, please come out and watch! If you aren't in the area, make travel plans and fly on out to watch! It's going to be monumental. Big for me, but even more monumental for Dave Goodin as there is going to be a melding of the best of the best of drug-free bodybuilding unlike any other that has been able to come together. So consider the WNBF fuck-ups bad for them, and good for us!!!

http://www.theocbwebsite.com for the OCB
http://www.ifpapro.com/ for IFPA Pro