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The tragic death of Rich Piana has rocked the bodybuilding world in a way that no one could have anticipated. For many Rich Piana have been a controversial figure but he was loved by friends, family, and thousands of fans around the world.
“How Rich Piana died is still under investigation.”
And while mystery still surrounds what actually killed social media star, people are weighing in with their own opinions.
Recently In an interview with UK’s Daily Star Online fitness & martial arts expert, Matt Fiddes shares his opinion that Piana might not have eaten enough sugars to balance insulin he may have taken before a photo-shoot.
On the day of the incident, Piana and his girlfriend Chanel Jansen were on a photoshoot. And to get into the perfect shape for this shoot, Rich would have most likely got a pump on.
Fiddes said:
“He would naturally take a pre-workout and then get to the photo shoot, do some press ups, some curls, get his body in condition and then come home.”
Fiddes believes Piana would have combined the pre-workout substance with insulin to perfect his appearance.
It’s common for athletes to take insulin and Rich Piana himself posted a YouTube video four years ago, in which he talked about the perils of taking insulin for novices but praised its effectiveness.
He said: “The thing is insulin works.
“It definitely works and does what is supposed to do.
“And it is dangerous but as long as you know what you are doing, everything can be fine.
“If you know what you are doing it is not dangerous, as long as you are taking the sugar which is necessary to match up the insulin you are taken.”
But this is where things likely went wrong for Piana according to Fiddes.
He said: “They have to eat enough sugar to balance the insulin just like a diabetic would, otherwise they will go into a coma and die.
“If the photoshoot dragged on a little bit he may not have eaten enough sugars to balance what insulin he would have taken?”
“He would have to keep an eye on his sugars every three or four hours.”
A member of the British Pharmacological Society, Julien Baker speaking with Daily Star also warned of the danger of insulin:
“If you don’t take the right diet or eat the right foods when you inject insulin you must take a high sugar diet, otherwise you can slip into a coma.”
“Insulin users who are bodybuilders normally inject about three times a day.”
“This guy was on his way into a diabetic coma, there may also be some kind vascular even taking place as a result of a long-term use of steroids.”
Fiddes says he believes Piana may have made a fatal mistake and simply got the balance wrong.
He added: “In my view, he took a pre-workout substance, too much to create this pump and his heart’s gone crazy.
“He’s effectively had a workout by getting a pump for the photo shoot and he’s on insulin so he’s not taken the right sugars.
He’s got home, he’s exhausted and he just simply fell into a diabetic coma which is extremely common in athletes.”
That ultimately lead him to slip into a diabetic coma.
TMZ Sports reported: It appears that paramedics found crushed white powder on his table along with a credit card and a straw upon entering his home.
Fiddes believes it would have also contained ECA, a powerful pre-workout drug cocktail that may also have endangered his health.
Fiddes added: “It will give a crazy rush of energy, an insane amount of power and it will make the workout 20 to 30 times more powerful.”
It consists of ephedrine, a synthetic form of adrenaline that used in the medical & emergency situations to restart hearts.
This is combined with caffeine and aspirin, that allows the blood to absorb the substances very quickly and numbs workout pain.
Fiddes said: “He liked to snort it to get the immediate effect.”
“I watched a video, and he’s putting scoops of the stuff in his drink. It would be quite unrealistic that a man in incredible shape all year round is not taking it.”
Rich Piana died nearly three weeks after placed in a medically induced coma following a medical emergency at his home in Florida. He was 46.
Regardless of whether you loved or hated him, the loss of life will leave a void to his family, friends, and fans across the world. Rich Piana was a true icon and inspiration to many in the bodybuilding community.
R.I.P.
Wish I could of met him
Dude was awesome. Met him at the Olympia a few years back.
Sweet
Have*
Great fun got the opportunity just before he past in June at Toronto pro show good guy from what I seen of him:)
Met him at bodypower last may great guy taking time to talk to us
We’ll all meet him some day.
It doesn’t matter now because you’re not going to bring him back, what matters now Rich Piana was an inspiration to young up coming bodybuilders he will always be remembered
inspiration for what?how much steroids to take and how much oil to put in your muscles? ignorant idiots
Unbelievable you should never speak ill of the dead it’s so disrespectful on so many levels regardless of who the person is
at least he was a somebody, unlike you, you fat weak powerlifter miami vice shades faget
You are the “ignorant idiot” Barbu for disrespecting and bad mouthing a man who has passed away.
thanks for that!
Cristi Barbu just shut your mouth buddy if you don’t have something better to say because you are also using steroids
Get em Adam 😤
Remembered for being a drug abuser not just a user. Still don’t fucking get it Geez Christ dude. You don’t idol guys who abuse the shit and die. Everything is a calculated risk, so use some common sense. You idol all the junkies out there shooting heroin ? Nope, just the guy w muscles and we over look his addictions as he glamorized. I am a bodybuilder and I take the gear IM JUST NOT A STUPID FUCK. All you bitches need to idol someone sooooooo bad. Whether Rich was cool or not doesn’t matter he was a drug abuser… Read more »
Christine Yvonne you stupid cunt it’s very relevant to tell the truth about the reckless abandonment to his usage. He died because of all the drugs he took promoting some healthy lifestyle. It’s you who needs to sit down and stfu and tell the truth about the sport. No one gives a fuck if you met him or how your picture was taking with him. Irresponsible usage w no self control should be the topic you dumb bitch not your feelings or respect to Piana because he put himself in the spot light good and bad.
Cristi Barbu twat
Rich was very open about what he did, even before the social media craze. He was a very good bodybuilder years ago when he competed, BUT chose the “freak” route over competing and was well known for the crazy amount of drugs he would use. What exactly does that inspire to others? Just curious……
Chris Justis you are a fucking idiot, its inspiring as the empire he built and the body he created. u tunnel visioned clown
He was also Very against other abusing steroids, they whole purpose to his videos was to educate. He stated 1000’s of times, kids are going to do it regardless, it’s better if they have an actual source that will tell the truth, vs bro science that could get them killed. Not to mention he built and empire, known for his work ethic, always encouraged and pushed people to become more than what they were. I mean, his entire life motto was, “whatever it takes” he strongly believed when you find something hat makes you happy, to Chase it with ferocity… Read more »
Being a diabetic and knowing what insulin can do. This does sound believable. May also be a contributor to other Bodybuilding deaths.
Speculating on what killed Piana is pointless. Even an autopsy wouldn’t definitively point to the exact causation. For example, how advanced was his arteriosclerosis? Was that caused by steroids, diet, insulin, gh, PMAA, anti-estrogens or aromatases, or genetic predisposition? Jerry Brainum recently posted a study showing PMAA, which was used to treat vertebral fractures, was escaping the bone and traveling to the heart where it damaged tissue. He could and likely did have severe right ventricular hypertrophy. Was that just normal athletic heart syndrome or from years of hypertension?
Who knows. Who cares. Steroid use isn’t healthy. Stop the presses
Steroid abuse is not healthy 🖒
^^^^ bingo was his name o
Yes, a distinction I don’t make as steroid use refers to abuse in my book, the healthy use I refer to as HRT. I would be classified as an abuser
Steroid use isn’t healthy, clearly using anabolics, or are you just on creatine my guy
👏
Jordan are you special? He literally said “i would be classified as an abuser”
Plain and simple toxicology report will reveal more about his death than anything but his girlfriend already knows cause at the hospital they tested him for all substances. It is well known rich had a large large drug problem. Sad but his x has posted videos of him zapped out of his mind where he could barely stand and couldn’t put two words together
So called EXPERTS….need to keep their opinions to themselves and WAIT… allow the REAL experts to do their job…allow family some peace and show some respect in the mean time!!
Just let the guy be dead! I don’t get why cunts keep banging on about it?
: It’s common for athletes to take insulin?! Wow
Extremely common
RIP BIG DAWG miss your videos..
We should ask Jason blaha. He’s the real expert …in everything. Like CIA…and stuff
Another so called expert weighing in with his opinion without knowing the facts
Exactly!
So hes basicaly guessing what a dipshit.lol
Your profile name tho?
Josiah Sanchez
So pretty much mixing pre and insulin together?
Sounds like it here but still under investigation
Hmm
Too much oxy is what killed him
Well, I think those who like to speak out before they find out exactly what happened should keep there opinion to there self. That why they give steroid a bad name. Because they need something to blame it on when it’s not the real case. Find the truth before you blame the wrong supplements. That why there no good supplement out there anymore. Because they take out all the good stuff when someone dies from it. People die because they think it bettter to take more of it then to take whats adviced.
Steroids ALWAYS get the blame…sad. I am no expert on these matters, but I wonder if it was not rather a combination of factors contributing to his demise…the PMMA, GH, insulin, Synthol, Nolotil, recreation drugs…abuse over many years may have certainly played a part…just my own thoughts. There is only so much that one’s body can tolerate and add to that his age…sooner or later, something was going to give…tragic!
Actually, people need to mind their own business….How would you like to have everyone and their brother speaking and discussing YOUR loved one’s demise???
Christine to be fair he was an out there type of guy wouldn’t you say, after that let’s call a spade a spade, nobody is judging him but you have to wonder why people get so defensive ? is it because they are really looking at themselves?
EL PIANA DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER LIFE. AND IN ONE OF THESE PLACES HE MAY FIND HIMSELF, AND SO WILL ALL OTHER GOD-HATERS THAT DOES NOT LOVE AND WORSHIP THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY JESUS CHRIST !!!
If it’s true in what they say about the white powder then I doubt very much it was pre workout… Boston Lloyd has called him out before for cocaine and xanax abuse and he was also obviously a long term steroid and ped user… do the maths. I also highly doubt he messed up his insulin dosage with his wealth of experience and if he felt he was going hypoglycaemic for even a second he would take some sugar on board. It’s clearly a heart related issue due to the drugs mentioned above.
And you know this for sure? How 🙄
Ciaran Byrne nobody other than people close to him are ‘sure’. But I believe my speculations are more realistic than the author of this article.
I could definitely believe he did rec drugs as most bodybuilders do just to combat the shitty side effects of high dose anabolic steroids. Not saying that’s what killed him. I bet he was fucking around with GHB which could easily put you in a coma and kill you. I remember him mentioning taking that back in the day in one of his videos.
Justin Flex do you know why he was taking that? I have a lot of respect for Rich for so many reasons but he was a walking pharmacy and you’re playing with fire combining anabolics in such doses with rec drugs and very little downtime.
Ciaran Byrne because he has eyes in his head, have a look you might see it too
Luke Fox assumptions and scenarios and speculation nobody knows nothing 100% but I agree he didn’t miscalculate the sugars as he was well up on the area
Ciaran Byrne agreed unfortunately live by the sword …… But none the less awesome physique, I don’t think you go to that level without realising the potential cost
Luke Fox very true I believe everything in moderation if you abuse anything it will kill you. Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, even breakfast rools lol nobody can judge rich because most likely they are abusing something themselves
Those are your assumptions…but as a diabetic insulin user you are very incorrect about people not messing up dosages or knowing when they are going hypo. If only it was that damn easy….but kudos to you for being an expert on insulin and BG, please write a book….it would be ever so helpful.
Nicole Cordova dosing insulin is pretty straight forward so I don’t know how you would mess up when you take insulin.. basic overestimated rule of thumb is 10g of suger per iu of insulin and if you start to feel slightly dizzy/unwell/tired just load up on sugar. Tell me more about how else you would go wrong? However, I am generally speaking of humalog, I know longer acting insulin is a little more complex and I wouldn’t pretend to know much about that. But it’s pretty easy to tell if you might be going hypo and as a precaution you… Read more »
Unless you’re actually special needs and I dare say Rich was a lot more intelligent than you…
And all the rich panini dick riders come to his aid
Tren clen
He was a very successful and determined bodybuilder. . RIP
He just abused the shit out of his body. What do u expect?
Sadly missed RIP
yup:)
Carlos Cruz
Kenneth Van de Beek
Maria Meyer Mendec lyder nok rigtig
Det er ihvertfald en mulighed…
expert my ass.. since when were experts the ones who you should have followed..
STEROIDS!!!!!
It was all abt his image and pride….Now look where this has led him…. RIP
Friend of mine said the same thing actually…
An opinion. Not a fact
Exactly…who needs it?
Another guy who counts for views on yt riding Richs back
Yep, correct…..The Peanut Gallery
Shame he died, and it was random and out of nowhere… i found the guy annoying at timss with all the bodybuilding drama.. but did respect how he wouldng hide things from fans and would be honest. Unlike other bodybuilders that give young people a false impression that with hard work and no steroids you could be as massive as they are.. then fail and give up when they see no progress.. rich kept it real and let peiple know if you wanna get to that level you need steroids and other supplements or theres reallt no chance.
Even half the stuff Rich said was bullshit. Truth mixed with lies in most videos.
+1 this
Bullshit
This is all bullshit. The second you’re body starts going hypoglycemic you start sweating ur stomach starts feeling itchy and you crave junk food. It takes a while to actually go into a coma and you know wayyy before that would happen to eat some sugar. Eca stack you have to go to a pharmacy buy bronchaid pills which are huge then mix that with a 200mg caffeine pill and a baby aspirin. There’s no way someone is crushing up those three pills and snorting all that powder. I can’t even imagine how bad that would hurt you’re nose holy… Read more »
This is why it’s better to get hooked on golf or tennis.
David Parkins
Er, years of steroid abuse that increased the size of his heart?
They already said he died of massive heart failure and he was basically dead before he hit the floor. Piana pushed every limit possible and his luck ran out. It’s sad but not tragic like an innocent child dying of cancer or something.
absolutely right couldnt agree more
That’s true
Ask his family if his death was TRAGIC…..
It is tragic buddy ,,,until we know what’s the exact cause of his death from the doctors we can’t just simply assume or believe anything from this fitness experts,according to me rich has a huge following in the industry and all this people are just trying to grab some limelight using his death which in my opinion is pathetic
Agreed
Nice info thanks I love exercise
So, pre workout killed him. I think we need to call in another expert for a second opinion. Someone call Bradly Martyn
Derrick Duckles Thobani Moyo Christopher Diamond Raubenheimer Reabetsoe Rehab Sesele
Told you boi
Jacob Nemeth read this
So sad,it goes to show you,that natural is the only way to stay healthy.
Danelaw ‘D’ Court Petersen
Has shitty adware that kept navigating me away from the page.
It basically said he didn’t take in enough carbs with insulin. Also it described an ECA stack as pre workout…
Painkillers, steroids, and being 280-270lbs. My opinion, but realistically thats the most probable cause.
He died of cardiomyopathy (heart failure) he had a cardiac arrrest… due to all the substances listed steroids, pre workouts, large amounts of food and just generally being that big and putting that much stress of cutting down and bulking up for so many years… R.I.P Rich.
That has to be the dumbest shit I’ve read!
Josh Brame
it wasn’t cocain that killed him that white powdered on the table was a pre workout out
Patrick Nash Tye Peter Molloy
Epinephrine and ephedrine are not the same, complete BS opinion
Jonathan Boivin apparemment iL serait mort d’un coma de diabétique parce qu’il se serait injecté de l’insuline sans balancer avec du sucre. En plus de ça iL aurait snifé un mélange de pré workout et un truc pour restarter le cœur quand t’es mort en poudre. IL jouait avec le feu pas mal
Cory Montgomery