Tag: nEWS
INTERVIEW: The Anabolic Doc Wants To Debate Tony Huge & Debunk His Steroid Claims
[embedded content]
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka The Anabolic Doc, is willing to go toe-to-toe with Tony Huge and disprove his pro steroid claims.
Throughout the years of developing films in the bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness world – we’ve had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Thomas O’Connor for many projects. Known in bodybuilding as The Anabolic Doc, O’Connor is a medical doctor and expert on Testosteronology. This is a medical specialty that offers comprehensive and personalized medical services for men on androgens.
O’Connor has appeared in multiple Generation Iron films including Enhanced and Enhanced 2 The Max. He often criticized and disagreed with the controversial claims of Tony Huge. For these films, both Tony Huge and Dr. O’Connor’s interviews were conducted separately. They’ve never had a chance to discuss their conflicting beliefs in the same room… but it seems like that will soon change. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, The Anabolic Doc opens up about wanted to debate Tony Huge directly and debunk Tony’s controversial claims about steroids.
It’s been over a year since we last connected with Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka The Anabolic Doc. Since then, Dr. O’Connor appeared in a National Geographic limited series that explored the underworld of steroid use. Tony Huge, a controversial self proclaimed underground PED scientist, also appeared in the National Geographic program. This is a third time they’ve appeared in a film or TV show together – followed by our films Enhanced and Enhanced 2 The Max.
During our latest video interview with the Anabolic Doc, we discussed the National Geographic show and O’Connor’s thoughts on working on yet another project involving Tony Huge. O’Connor admitted that he felt his services were underutilized in the series. He understood that he was not the star of the program – but found that ultimately Tony Huge was featured far more. National Geographic seemed more interested in showing the danger and excitement of underground steroids. This caused O’Connor to come across, as he put it, like “the angry white man.”
In The Anabolic Doc’s opinion, National Geographic essentially released a promotional video for Tony Huge and underground steroids while offering much less impactful information about the true dangers of long term use.
That’s why we then suggested that the Anabolic Doc and Tony Huge should have a direct debate on the Generation Iron Network.
While Dr. O’Connor and Tony Huge have now appeared in three different projects together – they’ve never actually been in the same room during those films and shows. Vlad Yudin asked O’Connor if he would be open to directly debating Tony Huge. O’Connor was happy to oblige.
“I’d love to do it. If he [Toney Huge] has the balls to do it. He might not have the balls to do it,” Dr. Thomas O’Connor stated in our interview. He continued:
“It would be super awesome because it would get tons of millions and millions of views and I would be able to sell what I sell. Which is my information and love and care and knowledge to limit steroid use by young men. I would love to do it.”
The Anabolic Doc has always positioned himself as a doctor who empathizes and loves bodybuilding and strength sports. But he also is honest about the very real dangers of long time steroid abuse. He has always made it his mission to help any bodybuilder or strength athlete without discrimination. He wants to empathize with their passion and design to succeed while also opening their eyes to the true risk and permanent damage they might accrue due to their choices.
Conversely, Tony Huge has made it his mission to publicly inform bodybuilders and strength athletes of the benefits of steroids. According to Huge, steroids are not unhealthy and the long term effects are overblown. He feels that steroid use can be the next step in humanity’s evolution. He thinks doctors such as The Anabolic Doc are simply part of a conspiracy to limit information on steroids and keep it from becoming legalized.
This clash of beliefs would certainly be exciting to watch in a debate format – as both Dr. O’Connor and Tony Huge state to have evidence to back their claims. To see them directly challenge each other’s evidence would be a site to behold. Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for updates as we plan to make this debate a reality.
For now – you can watch The Anabolic Doc share his opinion on Tony Huge and his desire to debate him in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Arnold Schwarzenegger Gives Advice To Guide Anyone Getting Into Weightlifting
Arnold Schwarzenegger provided advice in his recent newsletter.
If you are a person who is looking to get into weightlifting, it might be wise to listen to the greatest bodybuilder of all-time. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently shared some advice to anyone looking to get into weightlifting in his newsletter.
Schwarzenegger began his writeup by mentioning a charity contest going on where anyone who donates to “After School All Stars” will have a chance to attend an outdoor party at his house. Schwarzenegger then spoke further on the recent controversy surrounding his comments about COVID-19 and mask wearers.
After addressing certain issues and topics, Schwarzenegger answered some fans questions. One wrote: Do you have any advice for a girl getting into weightlifting? Schwarzenegger began by stating that gender does not matter in weightlifting and it is for everyone.
“I would have the same advice for you as I do for any boy!” Schwarzenegger said.
“First of all, don’t get discouraged because of your gender because, remember, fitness is for everyone. If anyone gives you crap about it, let your lifting do the talking. If you want to just start lifting to feel better, take it one step at a time, start with lower weights and really focus on your technique. Slow and controlled. Don’t worry about the fancy exercises you see on Instagram either, stick with the basic lifts like the squat, deadlift and press until you master them. After a while you’ll see yourself getting better and stronger, and before you know it you’ll be deadlifting more than all the guys in the gym.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger came to the United States from Austria and quickly made a name for himself as a bodybuilder. He was inspired by the Olympics and became a force in the sport. Schwarzenegger is a three-time Mr. Universe and is a seven-time Olympia champion.
Schwarzenegger referenced some questions that must be answered before beginning weightlifting. It all begins with your goal and passion.
“It really depends on what type of weightlifting you want to do. Do you want to lift to just feel better and look better, or do you want to get into powerlifting, or are you inspired by the Olympics and want to start Olympic lifting? They’re all good options.”
Schwarzenegger continued to speak on his inspiration and the impact that the Olympics had on him during his early days of training.
“If you are like me and you were inspired by the Olympics and you loved watching these men and women do their lifts, read about Kate Nye. Until 2014, she was trying to make it into the Olympics in gymnastics. She didn’t achieve that dream, but only 5 years after she started weightlifting, she had the United States’ best result in over 20 years by winning the silver medal in Tokyo. She overcame some tremendous mental health struggles, and I hope she inspires you, because she definitely inspires me.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger has plenty of experience as both a bodybuilder and powerlifter. He was extremely successful and is still willing to help the next generation. His advice is simple — focus on technique and do not overexert yourself. Focus on basic movements and not the advanced and difficult lifts seen on social media.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Terrence Ruffin Teams Up With Lee Labrada to Perfect Posing
Terrence Ruffin is taking his posing to the next level by teaming up with Lee Labrada.
It appears that Terrence Ruffin is bring out the big guns ahead of the Arnold Classic. After coming second at the 2020 Olympia, Ruffin is riding a heavy wave of momentum. He upset former Classic Physique champion Breon Ansley with a truly impressive physique and presence on stage. Now in order to maintain his dominance he’s teaming up with veteran bodybuilder Lee Labrada to perfect his posing.
Classic Physique is a division that’s essentially still up for grabs at this point. While Chris Bumstead appears to be the de facto head honcho in the division, there’s still a possibility that his throne can be challenged. If Bumstead is off his game a bit, competitors like Terrence Ruffin could snatch victory from nowhere.
Terrence Ruffin has the kind of balanced physique that could easily see him taking top honors at one of the upcoming big shows. But more than his physique, Ruffin has the incredible ability to showcase his incredible physique with some great posing.
In the Classic Physique division there is perhaps no better power than Terrence Ruffin. He is able to display his physique with grace and strength, the true epitome of a classic bodybuilder. In order to accentuate his already impressive posing ability, Ruffin has seemed out the advice of Lee Labrada.
Epic Posing Advice
An incredible poser in his heyday, Lee Labrada was one of the most impressive competitors during his era. Some would say that he’s an uncrowned champion. Labrada is still looking impressive as ever and is passing on his knowledge to the next generation of bodybuilders, including his son and Terrence Ruffin.
Lee Labrada and Terrence Ruffin recently joined forces for a collaboration all about posing.
Me and the greatest @leelabradaofficial talk posing and we also get to see Lee posing and performing some of his most unique shots in my latest video on YouTube.
Clearly Terrence Ruffin has the ability to shake up the Classic Physique division. With his posing hitting a new level, Ruffin could give reigning champion Chris Bumstead a run for his money for years to come.
What do you think of Terrence Ruffin teaming up with Lee Labrada?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Ronnie Coleman Believes Diuretics Should Be Banned: ‘They Will Kill You’
Ronnie Coleman spoke out about the issue in a recent interview.
Ronnie Coleman is a legendary name in the spot of bodybuilding. He is considered to be one of the best to ever step on stage so he draws much attention when he speaks on certain topics. In a recent interview, Coleman took a stand on the issue of diuretics in bodybuilding.
The use of diuretics is common in bodybuilding. This is a tactic used to dehydrate the body and allow muscles to pop more on stage. However, it could have some serious side effects and that is what Coleman explain in his interview. He highlighted his process prior to the 2001 Olympia, where he thought he was going to die.
“The one that stands out the most to me is ’01, where I was totally dehydrated the day of the show, and I was thinking I was going to die. That stands out to me more than any other show because I was on my way to the hospital and Chad (Nicholls) called me and said ‘Don’t do that,” Coleman said.
“I wasn’t cramping or nothing, I was just exhausted, tired. I didn’t have no energy. When I went to get out of bed, I couldn’t hardly get out of bed because I was so exhausted and tired. I went to try to walk around a little bit, and I didn’t have no energy to walk around. I was like ‘Man, I’m out of it. Ain’t no way I can compete like this.’”
Ronnie Coleman won eight-straight Olympia’s from 1998-2005. He was dethroned in 2006 when he finished second to Jay Cutler. The 2001 competition sticks out the most because of how he felt physically before. Coleman was told to hydrate before the competition — even if it would impact his performance on stage.
This helped Coleman feel better physically. Because of this experience, Coleman believes that competitors should be tested for different diuretics and they should be banned from the sport all together.
“Those diuretics are dangerous. They will kill you, as we’ve seen in the past. I think it’s mostly all about the diuretics, so I think if they brought diuretic testing back, that would solve the problem.”
Coleman knows a thing or two about Olympia’s so he gave some insight on the upcoming event. Big Ramy took home the title in the 2020 Olympia and will look to make it two in a row this year. Coleman is one of the believers that says Big Ramy will be difficult to defeat.
“It’s going to be real hard (to beat Ramy), especially after you done won one and you now have the formula. I think it’s going to be real hard. Plus he’s a big guy and nine times out of ten they’re looking for the biggest guy to be Mr. Olympia,” Coleman said.
“He figured out how to manipulate the water, that’s what it’s all about… I think Ramy’s a shoe-in.”
Ronnie Coleman is the latest to speak out on the controversial issue of diuretics in bodybuilding. There has been a string of recent deaths in the bodybuilding world and while there have not been many causes revealed, diuretics has been a discussion. Coleman believes that the sport can benefit from getting rid of them all together.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ryan Crowley On The Trauma Of His Pec Tear: “The Worst Pain I’ve Ever Felt”
Ryan Crowley reflects on his pec tear injury, his recovery, and how the incident was both physically and mentally traumatizing. In March of 2021, Ryan Crowley went viral due to a video of him suffering a pec tear injury while training with Larry Wheels. Since then he has been on the long road to recovery…
Luke Stoltman Wins 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man
Here are the complete results from the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man competition.
The 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man competition took place on Sept. 4 with some of the elite powerlifters in the world vying for the title. Leeds, England was the location of the event and it saw Luke Stoltman take home the championship.
Luke’s brother, Tom Stoltman, was one of the favorites to win the competition but was forced to bow out at the last minute. Stoltman tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to stay in Scotland. The title was able to stay in the family with Luke emerging as the victor.
Stoltman is now qualified for the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. Oleksii Novikov, who won the 2020 WSM, finished second while Graham Hicks placed third. Novikov was already qualified for the 2022 WSM and Stoltman and Hicks earned theirs by finishing in the top three of the event.
The Europe’s Strongest Man consisted of five events — max log lift, shield carry, axle deadlift, car walk, and castle stones. Below are the full results from the competition.
2021 Europe’s Strongest Man Results
First Place – Luke Stoltman (GBR) — 40.5 points
Second Place – Oleksii Novikov (UKR) — 39 points
Third Place – Graham Hicks (GBR) — 30.5 points
Fourth Place – Rauno Heinla (EST) — 30 points
Fifth Place – Marius Lalas (LTU) — 28 points (T-5)
Sixth Place – Pa O’Dwyer (IRL) — 28 points (T-5)
Seventh Place – Ervin Toots (EST) — 20 points
Eighth Place – Gavin Bilton (GBR) — 12 points
Ninth Place – Johnny Hanson (SWE) — 11 points
Tenth Place – Adam Bishop (GBR) — 1 point
Max Log Lift
First Place – Luke Stoltman — 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds)
Second Place – Graham Hicks — 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds)
Third Place – Oleksii Novikov — 180 kilograms (396.8 pounds)
Shield Carry
First Place – Marius Lalas — 54.2 meters
Second Place – Luke Stoltman — 42.2 meters
Third Place – Ervin Toots — 37.7 meters
Fourth Place – Rauno Heinla — 37.05 meters
Fifth Place – Pa O’Dwyer — 34.85 meters
Sixth Place – Gavin Bolton — 32.1 meters
Seventh Place – Oleksii Novikov — 27.85 meters
Eighth Place – Graham Hicks — 27.4 meters
Ninth Place – Johnny Hanson — 22.3 meters
Tenth Place – Adam Bishop — 7.45 meters
Axle Deadlift
First Place – Rauno Heinla — 9 reps
Second Place – Graham Hicks — 8 reps
Third Place – Marius Lalas — 6 reps
Fourth Place – Oleksii Novikov — 6 reps
Fifth Place – Pa O’Dwyer — 6 reps
Sixth Place – Gavin Bilton — 5 reps
Seventh Place – Luke Stoltman — 3 reps
Eighth Place – Ervin Toots — 2 reps
Ninth Place – Johnny Hansson — 0 reps
Car Walk
First Place – Oleksii Novikov – 11.19 seconds
Second Place – Luke Stoltman – 13.59 seconds
Third Place – Pa O’Dwyer – 16.07 seconds
Fourth Place – Marius Lalas – 16.79 seconds
Fifth Place – Johnny Hansson – 20.6 seconds
Sixth Place – Rauno Heinla – 22.84 seconds
Seventh Place – Ervin Toots – 24.91 seconds
Eighth Place – Graham Hicks – 25.76 seconds
Ninth Place – Gavin Bilton – 7.73 meters
Castle Stones
First Place – Oleksii Novikov — 6 in 18.74 seconds
Second Place – Luke Stoltman — 5 in 20.58 seconds
Third Place – Rauno Heinla — 5 in 21.2 seconds
Fourth Place – Pa O’Dwyer — 5 in 22.23 seconds
Fifth Place – Graham Hicks — 5 in 22.42 seconds
Sixth Place – Ervin Toots — 5 in 23.5 seconds
Seventh Place – Marius Lalas — 5 in 24.76 seconds
Eighth Place – Johnny Hansson — 5 in 48.01 seconds
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2021 Lenda Murray Bodybuilding Savannah Pro Results
Tommy Clark took home the prize in Classic Physique.
The 2021 Lenda Murray Bodybuilding Savannah Pro took place on Sept. 4 in Savannah, GA. This was another chance for competitors to gain qualification to the 2021 Olympia during the bodybuilding season. Tommy Clark headlined the event by taking home the prize in Classic Physique.
Lenda Murray was the host of the event and there was plenty to watch. This was Clark’s first victory and he will now have a chance to compete at the Olympia for the first time in his career. Clark recently placed seventh in Men’s Physique at the 2020 New York Pro.
There were a total of three events with winners trying to earn qualification to the best event of the year. Classic Physique, Figure, and Women’s Bodybuilding competitors gathered and put on a show that ended up being exciting and worth the wait.
The full results have been announced and the prize money has been given out. There was $5,000 given out to the Classic Physique and Figure winners while the Women’s Bodybuilding got $6,000. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 Lenda Murray Bodybuilding Savannah Pro results below.
2021 Lenda Murray Bodybuilding Savannah Pro: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Savannah Pro Bodybuilding. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Classic Physique: Tommy Clark
Women’s Bodybuilding: Reshanna Boswell
Figure: Stephanie Gibson
2021 Lenda Murray Savannah Bodybuilding Pro Breakdown
Classic Physique
First Place – Tommy Clark
Second Place – Barry Hulbert
Third Place – Brady Barnes
Fourth Place – Amit Roy
Fifth Place – Julius Page
Sixth Place – Damion Ricketts
Women’s Bodybuilding Results
First Place – Reshanna Boswell
Second Place – Janeen Lankowski
Third Place – Jeanie Welker
Fourth Place – Lisa Kudrey
Fifth Place – Shannon Perdikis
Sixth Place – Nicki Chartrand
Figure
First Place – Stephanie Gibson
Second Place – Sandra Grajales
Third Place – Jossie Nathali Alarcon
Fourth Place – Autumn Cleveland
Fifth Place – Tiffani Lapoint
Sixth Place – Melissa Brodsky
Official Score Cards
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Savannah Bodybuilding Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Tom Stoltman To Miss 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man
Tom Stoltman will miss the competition because of complications with COVID-19.
Tom Stoltman has become a true force in powerlifting. He won the World’s Strongest Man competition earlier in the year and had a chance to show what he can do on another big stage. It was recently announced that Stoltman will miss some time because of COVID-19.
Stoltman has a YouTube page with his brother, Luke, and this is where he shared the announcement that he will no longer take part in the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man competition. He has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be forced to miss some time competing.
“I got COVID yesterday, so on Thursday. I’ve now got it, Thursday night. So for safety I will not be competing during the weekend. I feel like for me, it’s just a cold,” Tom Stoltman said.
“We’re going to try and stay safe, and then we’re going to be there in Scotland. I have to quarantine until Wednesday or Thursday next week, so I still have a lot of time to train for Scotland. For me, it’s beneficial because I didn’t have the best prep for Europe’s anyway… Sorry that I won’t be there. It’s out of my hands.”
This would have been Stoltman’s first competition since the World’s Strongest Man. There has been a lot of anticipation for his return but fans will have to wait a little longer.
Stolman was supposed to compete during the 2021 Shaw Classic but was one of five competitors to bow out — this includes his brother, Luke. Trey Mitchell ended up coming out on top in the event. He beat out some of the top competitors in the world and it is likely that Stoltman would have been near the top.
Tom Stoltman will not have his sites set on Scotland’s Strngest Man competition. This will take place on Sept. 19. This gives Scottish lifter plenty of time to recover from the virus and get back to where he needs to be to win an event.
While it is a shame that Stoltman will miss the upcoming event, he will be a main factor moving forward. There is no doubt that he will continue to be one of the major competitors in the world.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Cedric McMillan Joins Black Skull Supplement Brand
Cedric McMillan has joined the up and coming supplement company.
It appears that a very prominent bodybuilder has joined the ranks of Black Skull. 2017 Arnold Classic champion Cedric McMillan has recently signed with the budding nutrition brand.
This comes hot off the heels of some less than stellar news for McMillan.
After suffering injury, Cedric McMillan was forced to pull out of the 2021 Arnold Classic. This wouldn’t be the first time that McMillan would be forced off an event in the last two years. Hand injuries forced McMillan out of the 2020 Olympia as well. The injuries for this recent withdrawal have yet to be revealed.
But this signing comes as great news for Cedric McMillan. With so many different injuries plaguing him, it’s good to see that some things are going right for McMillan. Sure it’s certainly different from competing at the highest level, but it’s great to see him join an up and coming brand like Black Skull.
Cedric McMillan took to his Instagram page to post about the news of his signing.
Black Skull recently partnered with Generation Iron Brasil as a part of a marketing campaign. With the signing of Cedric McMillan and the recent partnership with GI, it’s clear that Blackskull is on the rise as a nutrition and supplement company.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Managing editor of Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. He has been writing about bodybuilding, combat sports, and strength sports for over 8 years. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Trey Mitchell Wins 2021 Shaw Classic
Trey Mitchell won the second-annual event. Here are the full results.
The 2021 Shaw Classic took place from Aug. 27-28 in Estes Park, CO. Some of the best powerlifters in the world gathered to see if they can dethrone the event’s promoter Brian Shaw, who took home the title in the inaugural event last year. This time around, it was Trey Mitchell who was able to come out on top.
Shaw ended up finishing second with J.F. Caron placing third. The full results were announced on Friday through a video on Shaw’s YouTube page. Even though he finished second, Shaw did not accept any money and he distributed it among the other 15 competitors.
The Shaw Classic was missing some elite names but it was still a noteworthy event. Luke Richardson had to withdraw due to a bicep injury. Tom Stoltman and Luke Stoltman also pulled their names out weeks before the event. Finally, Robert Oberst and Oleksii Novikov were the latest to withdraw from the event.
The contest was completed on Aug. 28 and the competitors split a prize pool of $100,000. Below, you can find the final overall standings along with the money won by each athlete.
2021 Shaw Classic Results
Trey Mitchell — $21,000
Brian Shaw — $15,000*
J.F. Caron — $12,000
Kevin Faires — $9,000
Evan Singleton — $8,000
Aivars Smaukstelis — $7,000
Bobby Thompson — $6,500
Adam Bishop — $6,000
Maxime Boudreault — $5,500
Konstantine Janashia — $5,000
Graham Hicks — $4,500
Žydrūnas Savickas — $4,000
Gabriel Rheaume — $3,500
Gabriel Peña — $3,000
Jerry Pritchett — $2,500
Mikhail Shivlyakov — $2,500
The events were spread out evenly over two days. It began on day one with a max log press, super yoke, bag toss, and car squat with Ford Bronco. Day two continued with the Hummer tire deadlift, medley, circus dumbbell for reps, and Atlas stone.
In the end, it was Mitchell who was able to come out on top at the end. He excelled in the max log press when he completed a 206.3kg (455lb) lift. Mitchell also came in second with six reps in the circus dumbbell for reps.
The Shaw Classic has turned into an elite event with some of the best powerlifters in the world getting together to show who is the best. This time around, it was Mitchell who proved to rise to the occasion.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.