Bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest has watched the sport change for better or worse since donning a pair of posing trunks. In a recent rant shared to Instagram on October 25, 2023, Priest explained why the IFBB Pro League was wrong to suspend Mazin Salim AlRahbi for guest posing at a rival league’s contest.
“We pay to be a part of them, they don’t pay us. You athletes, it’s time to take a fucking stand for once, all these big muscles but you act like fucking pussys. You’re fucking pathetic. You don’t give a shit about each other you just care about yourself,” Lee Priest said.
Priest is certainly qualified to speak on this subject, considering he faced punishment from the IFBB Pro League on a number of occasions. Similar to AlRahbi, Priest was given a one-year suspension after competing in a show outside of the league, which was organized by Wayne DeMilia. After hearing of the suspension, he argued with the decision, which prompted officials to extend Priest’s ban for life.
With AlRahb sidelined, Priest used the shocking news to explain why suspensions don’t benefit the athlete or the league. Further, Priest argued that the 212 standout did nothing wrong as his occupation is to appear on stages as a bodybuilder to make a living.
“It’s Bullshit” – Lee Priest Reacts to Athlete Suspended for Guest Posing in Rival League
Mazin Salim AlRahbi, who won the Dubai Pro, was qualified for 2023 Mr. Olympia — the pinnacle of any bodybuilder’s career but had to remove his name from the roster after the IFBB Pro League handed out his punishment.
Priest contends that bodybuilders should have the right to earn money as independent contractors, regardless of the league.
“I see an IFBB athlete got suspended. What did he do wrong? He went to another contest took his shirt off and posed. Oh my, fancy that a professional bodybuilder doing what they are meant to do. But it was in a different organization, ‘Oh, Lee. He had a contract. He broke the rules.’ When I had a contract, I don’t know if they changed them now but it used to state we are independent contractors.
Yes, you’re a member of the IFBB by signing this contract but the IFBB does not pay you to be a part of them. Each year, you have to pay the IFBB. The IFBB makes a lot of money from the athletes paying them, the promoters paying them.
Now if the IFBB was giving you a contract where they paid you, fine. But as it’s stated in the contracts, back then, we were independent contractors making a living from bodybuilding. As long as you don’t bring the IFBB name into bad elk or do anything wrong like felonies which there are a lot of them, they never got suspended,” Priest shared.
Priest believes bodybuilders coming together is the only viable solution to this dilemma.
“What did Lee Priest do? He competed elsewhere to make a living making money doing what he does and I was the bad guy. Now I see this guy, I see it now says you can do seminars and talks and that if you get permission ahead of time which is good.
But in the spirit of the moment, I heard he took off his shirt and posed and he got suspended for that. Who do we blame? I blame the athletes. If you’s don’t stand together and stand up for fellow athletes this is going to continue happening.
Without you athletes, there is no IFBB, there are no contests and him being at a different organization doing that, he is there promoting the IFBB. He could get people to come across. It’s just this fucking stupid power trip. The IFBB gives you an opportunity to make money being on stage but you’re paying for that opportunity.”
In addition, the 51-year-old emphasized that AlRahbi’s presence on a rival stage did not negatively affect the IFBB Pro League in any capacity.
“Explain to me what harm did it do him being at that place taking his shirt off posing, getting the crowd excited, making money doing what he does, how does that affect the IFBB in any negative? If anything, that’s going to bring people to the IFBB.”
“Again, it’s bullshit. We are independent contractors but then again I blame the athletes.”
Check out the Instagram reel below:
The IFBB Pro League has been making moves left and right this season. They recently added new height and weight restrictions for the Men’s Physique and Classic Physique categories. Aside from that, the Mr. Olympia brand made a big announcement this week. Moving forward, only the top three Open finishers will receive automatic qualifications instead of the top five.
Having been on the receiving end of a one-year suspension and a lifetime ban, Priest urges athletes to come together as independent contractors, otherwise, he fears these actions will continue from the IFBB Pro League.
RELATED: Lee Priest, 51, Guy Cisternino 41, Show Off Impressive Physiques w/ Bodybuilding Posedown
Published: 25 October, 2023 | 1:50 PM EDT
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