Fans Skeptical as IFBB Announces Doubling Down on Natural Pro Shows: “Wish They Would Do Truly Natural”

The IFBB has shifted into high gear after Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would shell out $100,000 extra in prize money for the Arnold Classic, compared with the Mr. Olympia. The IFBB announced their first minor prize money increase shortly after Arnie’s speech. However, they haven’t stopped since and are now focusing on natural bodybuilding.

Last week, IFBB and NPC Vice-President Tyler Manion announced that the bodybuilding organization would increase the frequency of natural pro shows. While the original announcement was welcomed, not everyone felt optimistic. After the Instagram page Bis and Tris posted the rules for the upcoming natural shows, many fans didn’t think the move would help natural bodybuilding.

Tyler Manion announced that the IFBB is looking to add 30 natural NPC pro shows throughout the rest of 2024. The winners of these shows will qualify for the Ben Weider Natural Championships in November. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg as the organization plans to expand further in 2025.

Manion announced that the IFBB Pro League is taking the initiative to promote natural bodybuilding shows internationally. They plan to add 15 natural pro shows to each bodybuilding division before the 2025 Ben Weider Natural Championships. The vice president even announced that the winner of the Ben Weider title would have a chance to compete at the Mr. Olympia stage.

The initiative of letting natural bodybuilders make it to the Olympia stage garnered praise. However, fans in the comments section were skeptical of the rules defining who would be considered as a natural bodybuilder. 

Fans don’t agree with the IFBB definition of a natural bodybuilder

Bodybuilding fans frowned at the “Prohibited substances timeframe” ruleset. The rules consider anyone who hasn’t taken anabolics or PEDs in the last three years a natural athlete. However, fans questioned the IFBB. “The timeframes are a joke. It’s not real natural bodybuilding… 3 years off anabolics? Come on!” wrote one fan. “I wish they would do truly natural shows. That’s the only reason I’ve never competed,” said another lifetime-natural bodybuilder.

“Mike O’Hearn about to dominate,” sarcastically wrote another fan, because most people consider O’Hearn a ‘fake-natty’. “Stimulants: 6 months??” questioned one fan. “You could blast for 10 years and take 3 years off and SMOKE these natty guys…” added a fan. “Win shows naturally to get smoked at the Olympia? Add a natural division to the Olympia,” suggested another.

Nearly all bodybuilding fans supported the IFBB for shining the spotlight on natural bodybuilding in the beginning. However, when fans dug deeper, they found the rules of competition to be unacceptable in many cases. What are your thoughts on the pus for natural bodybuilding? Let us know in the comments.