In the fitness community, specifically bodybuilding, performance-enhancing drugs have become increasingly more common. The rise of gear has brought with it many consequences including but not limited to incarceration and in some cases even death. As of late, former bodybuilder Luke McNally is disputing over 28 drug-related charges because he doesn’t find them to be ‘fair.’
Luke McNally was the former Mr. Australia and the CEO of a successful supplement company called Mass Nutrition that netted him around 40$ million. In December 2019, McNally was arrested for drug-related charges and was released on bail under the expectation that he would get treatment at a rehab facility.
Six weeks following his release, the previous brothel turned rehabilitation center was raided and Luke McNally was arrested once again when it was discovered he was running a meth lab out of the facility. Police mentioned that there was intense activity going on from the lab days before the big bust.
After Being Found Guilty, Luke McNally Feels His Sentencing Was Unfair
During a pre-sentencing hearing, the judge found McNally guilty of 28 drug-related offenses and stated that McNally would be officially sentenced later this year. Although McNally pleaded guilty, he has now expressed that the charges are “not fair,” according to Perth Now. He also made an appeal to once again enter a rehab treatment facility center. However, that request was ultimately denied.
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Luke McNally isn’t the only bodybuilding personality to find themselves in trouble with the law. Guru Ameen Alai was indicted and facing 20 years to life after selling a mixture of substances, including ibogaine which resulted in that person’s death.
The bodybuilding community has seen a lot of death lately with many blaming PEDs for the concerning trend. In 2021 former 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden passed away at 46 because of a heart attack. That same year, 212 standout George Peterson suffered heart complications that resulted in his passing. His autopsy report also pointed to anabolic steroid use as a factor in his death.
Steroids and performance-enhancing drugs have been accepted in the sport for a long while, though many believe, like the late bodybuilding legend Steeve Reeves, that PEDs weren’t necessary. He argued that bodybuilding was meant to represent health and vitality, not artificial gains courtesy of pharmaceuticals.
Given the rise of deaths in the sport, drugs have become a topic of scrutiny within the bodybuilding and fitness industries. While Luke McNally has dealt with a litany of legal issues, he believes his actions don’t warrant this type of punishment.