Derek Lunsford’s victory at the 2025 Mr. Olympia is still rippling through the sport. On Dec. 8, 2025, his coach, Chris Aceto, fired back at rumors that Lunsford used PMMA (polymethyl-methacrylate) injections to reclaim the Sandow trophy.
Derek Lunsford defied the odds and cemented himself as a two-time Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, NV. It wasn’t without struggles. He admitted that he tore his pec just four weeks before stepping onstage. In the finals, he suffered a panic attack, though he persevered to come back triumphant.
While fans thought Lunsford’s next stop would be Columbus, Ohio, he’s decided to sit out the 2026 Arnold Classic. With his second child on the way, Aceto cleared the air on some unchecked accusations and broke down his contest plans.
Chris Aceto Shuts Down Claim That Lunsford Used PMMA Injections at the 2025 Mr. Olympia
In the video, Aceto denied the accusation that Lunsford used PMMA injections at the Mr. Olympia.
“I don’t know what it is, but I know Derek Lunsford did not use it,” he shared. “Someone sent me a video today of accusations about Derek Lunsford. His name was mentioned over and over and over. I will tell you that it’s a lie. Can I make it any more explicit that it’s a lie?”
He emphasized that these rumors are nothing more than accusations that lack hard evidence.
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“The allegations, it’s not allegations, it’s accusations. I don’t care how many times you used the word alleged, it doesn’t mean you’re not making the accusation.
It’s even worse because it clouds and muddies it up and implies that because I used allegedly, it makes it true. There’s an accusation directly against Derek like five times, did Derek use it for the Arnold? Did Derek use it for the Olympia? No,” said Aceto.
As for Lunsford’s plans moving forward, his sole focus is on the Olympia. Aceto said Lunsford wouldn’t compete at the Arnold Classic even if the winner’s purse was raised to over a million.
“It was completely 100 percent understood after the Olympia, where he got third, what shows he wanted to do and what he wanted to try to accomplish. Once he got over the finish line, honestly, if Arnold had first place $1.25 million, he would have passed it up. Because he’s also about it, when you’re Mr. Olympia, you want to keep that title.”
He noted that Lunsford’s primary goal is holding on to the Mr. Olympia title, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by the last few champions.
“It’s hard to keep, obviously. Ramy couldn’t keep it. Brandon couldn’t keep it. Samson couldn’t keep it. Hadi couldn’t keep it, and Derek couldn’t keep it.
It changed hands all those times. It’s hard to keep. Once he got through 2025, that was it, period. There was no second thought about trying to do a show earlier than the Olympia.”
Lunsford isn’t the only Olympia winner to have accusations thrown in his direction. Recently, Natalia Abraham Coelho came under fire after former champ Sarah Villegas accused her of using site enhancement oils to win back the Women’s Physique Olympia title.
Whether Lunsford actually used PMMA injections remains a mystery. Do you believe athletes have the right to use measures like SEOs or PMMA injections to get an edge over the competition?
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