Fouad Abiad, a Canadian bodybuilder in the late 2000s, with his meticulous physique, became the face of Canadian bodybuilding and climbed the ladder of success quickly. However, the IFBB professional cut short his professional years and announced his retirement early. Taking everyone by surprise, the 4x Arnold Classic qualifier made the least expected call. Revealing the reason for the first time, the Canadian bodybuilder went candid.

Sitting for a podcast episode of Straight Outta The Lair with former Welsh bodybuilder Flex Lewis, the 44-year-old had a lot to say.

The reason that prompted Fouad Abiad to retire from sports early 

A known name in the bodybuilding community, Fouad Abiad had successfully created a fanbase for himself. Though he failed to secure The Shadow trophy or Arnold Classic title, his contributions to the sport were recognized when he was named the “Overall Champion at the Canadian National Championships in 2006.”

However, during his active years, his competitors were not just on stage, as he had to fight health issues as well. With each passing day, Abiad’s kidney issue was getting severe. Thus, making a tough choice, the bodybuilder decided to retire early from the sport. Speaking about it, he remarked, “I don’t want to end up on dialysis when I’m 55 or something.”

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Adding more, Abiad pointed out how the “kidneys are going to degenerate” with progressing age. And thus, with his rigorous workouts and diet, he did not want to aggravate the cause. From 2013 to 2016, he was in the best of his form. He was consistent and successful and secured a place among the top four. When he announced his retirement in 2017, he finished 6th in Arnold Classic.

What prompted Abiad to take the call?

Apart from his apparent struggle with the kidney, Abiad was deeply impacted by the untimely demise of former Mr. Olympia winner Shawn Rhoden and George’ Da Bull’ Peterson. Three years younger than Rhoden, Abiad did not find any more compelling reasons to push his body to more limits.

Furthermore, his physical injuries and tears also prompted him to take the call. Having retired from the sport early, the former Canadian bodybuilder spends time with his family. About the same, he remarked, “the main issue is I want to be around for my wife. We don’t have kids. It’s me and her. I don’t want to leave her alone.”

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So, what do you think about Abiad’s decision? Do you think he made a wise choice? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section!