In recent years, dozens of top professional bodybuilders from the ’90s and 2000s have been dropping like flies.

As an amateur bodybuilder, I know the value of proper training, diet, and nutrition. I also take great pride in my sport.

However, this epidemic of death must be addressed.

The ridiculous chances my colleagues take to “gain an inch” in muscle mass does not outweigh the risk to their overall health.

In fact, what started as a sport to improve overall fitness and health, now centers on a culture obsessed with an illusion of health.

It is about how much size you can put on, and how fast you can do it. Not the long-term health benefits of exercise or the negative consequences of drug abuse.

The Bodybuilder’s Graveyard

Here is a shortlist of great bodybuilders who died before their time (h/t Connor Heffernan):

Mike Matarazzo (Died Age 48)

Mike Matarazzo is one of the well-known bodybuilders of all time, remembered for his impressive calves and arms. Mike was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Like many others in his generation, Mike decided to try his hand at boxing inspired by ‘Rocky Balboa’. He won his first title at the age of 24. He became the 1985 Massachusetts Golden Gloves light-heavyweight champion.

Mr. Matarazzo competed seven times at Mr. Olympia contest from 1991 to 2001 while his best placing was 9thin 1998. He was retired on December 8, 2004 because of having open heart surgery. He had a heart attack 3 years later on November 8, 2007. Finally, He died on August 16, 2014, in Stanford hospital in Palo Altowhile waiting for a heart transplant.

Dallas McCarver (Died Age 26)

Dallas McCarver started his career at an early age. He won 3 out of 5 of his IFBB competitions between 2012 and 2015. He also placed 8th at the 2016 Mr. Olympia Competition. In March 2017, Dallas collapsed while posing at the Arnold Classic in Australia. He explained later that he had been battling an upper respiratory infection that progressed into bronchitis, leaving him unable to catch his breath.

On August 22, 2017, Dallas was found on the floor at home with food scattered around him. He was pronounced dead at 1:03 am. Enlarged liver and kidneys, nephrosclerosis (a hardened kidney), heavy lungs, and a papillary thyroid carcinoma were noted in autopsy.

Just a few hours before death, he posted a video of himself chest pressing 160-pound dumbbells on his Instagram page.His death was saddening but also brought to light his history of steroid abuse.

Nasser El Sonbaty (Died Age 47)

Nasser El Sonbaty was born on October 15, 1965; graduated from the University of Augsburg in Germany. His father was Egyptian and his mother was from Yugoslavia. He was strong and had an ideal genetic as it’s said that he was benching 85 kilos when he was 17 years old. Nasser began bodybuilding in 1983. His first appearance in the Mr. Olympia competition was in 1994, where he placed 7th.

He qualified for 10 consecutive Mr. Olympia contests and entered nine Mr. Olympia competitions. His best placing in the competition was in 1997, where he placed 2nd behind Dorian Yates. Nasser is often referred to as the “Uncrowned Mr. Olympia,” because many believe that Nasser should have won that competition. The greatest victory of his career maybe was his win at the 1999 Arnold Classic in Ohio, USA.

Suffering from a Staph Infection in his shoulder which nearly cost him his life. He was in hospital for a long time and needed several operations. Nasser required a heart transplant, but he did not qualify as a candidate so chose to spend his final days with his family in Egypt. Mr. El Sonbaty died in his sleep due to kidney and heart failure.

Greg Kovacs (Died Age 44)

Greg Kovacs was a Canadian bodybuilder born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario with a rare monumental height compared to most pro bodybuilders. Standing 6’4″ tall with 400 lbs muscle mass he was a rare bodybuilder with massive size throughout his frame. Gregory developed over 27-inch arms in the prime of his career.

His highest professional bodybuilding placing was 13th at the 2004 Arnold Classic. Kovacs died on November 22, 2013 at midnight, in his Mississauga, Ontario condominium from heart failure.

Natural Bodybuilding

The amount of steroid abuse in the sport, even after the IFBB banned drugs, is astounding.

I often get kids who are just starting out in the sport approach me with questions such as “Where can get ‘roids?”

Stupid. But that is stereotype that haunts us.

As unique members of society, we are often misjudged because of our freakish size and strength. It is therefore encumbered upon us to be certain we do not feed the narrative that we are merely “steroid junkies”.

I urge bodybuilders to remain natural. Become a natural bodybuilder. By that I do not mean eat only organic foods but utilize only natural supplements and train in an organic function (I will discuss this more in a future blog).

Our lifestyle affords us the greatest of physical benefits. Like classical sculptors, we have the instinctive ability to reshape our bodies into works of art; to walk as gods amongst the masses.

However, we must also work toward making our physically fit appearances run deep.

Be strong. Be healthy. Say “NO!” to steroids.

Max is the host of The Max Radio Broadcast on YouTube and founder of The Max Warriors Network — a dedicated brigade of Deplorables which infiltrates and reports on Antifa activity.

Follow Max on Twitter @Maximus_4EVR and @Maximus_Legacy.