The World Natural Bodybuilding Federation of the Philippines steps up its campaign for a drug-free bodybuilding competition.
The group holds the second leg of its nationwide series of tournament on Oct. 28 at Johnny B. Good in Glorietta 3 in Ayala as part of its advocacy to promote both a drug-free athlete and sport.
So far, more than 30 bodybuilders have signed up for the one-day meet that features three categories, namely bodybuilding and physique for men and bikini for the women.
The competition strictly features ‘all natural’ method for bodybuilders without the benefit of banned substances.
“It’s how you train and the amount of protein you eat, the amount of fat, the amount of carbs you eat,” said WNBFP Vice-President Chris Byrne in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association at Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao as he explained the proper way of achieving a sculpted body even without the benefit of performance-enhancing drugs.
“When you guys come to the show, you’ll see amazing bodies and you’ll be blown by their physiques and what they’ve accomplished just from eating well and working out well.”
The WNBFP official was with son Christopher Byrne and competitor Ashter Munar in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Munar later showed his physique by performing a short routine pose at the conclusion of the weekly forum.
As an affiliate of WNBF, the local chapter will also be promoting stringent drug-testing among tournament participants.
Competitors are required to pass a polygraph test performed by an officially registered examiner before they are permitted to step on stage.
All overall winners and random athletes, meanwhile, are required to undergo urine test to ensure the absence of banned substances in their system.
Athletes who will fail the polygraph and urine test will be banned from the federation for at least seven years.
“We’re even more stringent than the Olympics. The Olympics I think, they ban one year or a year and half, where we ban for seven years,” said the elder Byrne. “We followed the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) list (of banned substances) just like any other Olympic sports.”
After a successfully inaugural staging last June also in Makati, Byrne said plans are now afoot on bringing the tournament outside of Manila with Cebu hosting the third stage by next year.
Including the Philippine, the WNBF already has 28 member countries, five of which just joined the federation last July.