Two bodybuilding experts, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy, have sparked a debate on whether glute implants and injections are a form of cheating in the IFBB Pro League. During a recent episode of the Prime Time Muscle podcast, the duo discussed the use of glute enhancements and argued that it gives some competitors an unfair advantage.
According to Cormier and El Guindy, bodybuilding is not just about building massive muscles but also about symmetry and balance. They believe that glute implants can create a false impression of a well-rounded physique and detract from the athlete’s hard work and dedication.
Judges Prioritize Balance and Conditioning Over Size and Freak Factor in Bodybuilding Contests
Bodybuilding judging has come under scrutiny recently, with fans and experts questioning the scoring system after the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay lost to Hadi Choopan, with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third place, respectively.
Many fans speculated that judges were beginning to prioritize balance and conditioning over sheer size and freak factor. This trend was further evident at the 2023 Arnold Classic, where Samson Dauda emerged victorious over Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked. Dauda’s balanced physique and proportions won the judges over, although some experts and fans thought that Walker deserved the top spot.
Bodybuilding Legends and Fans Question Samson Dauda’s Victory at 2023 Arnold Classic
Samson Dauda’s victory at the 2023 Arnold Classic has garnered mixed reactions from the bodybuilding community. While some experts praised his balanced and symmetrical physique, others criticized the judges’ decision and believed that Nick Walker deserved the win.
Bodybuilding legends such as Chris Aceto, Jay Cutler, and Samir Bannout expressed their disappointment with the judging and argued that Walker’s size and muscularity should have earned him the top spot. Fans also took to social media to voice their opinions, with some calling for a revamp of the scoring system to reflect the true essence of bodybuilding.
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Bodybuilding Community Discusses Transparency in Judging and Detecting Imbalances
Following the 2023 Arnold Classic and the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, judging transparency in bodybuilding has become a hot topic. After finishing third at the Arnold Classic, bodybuilder Nick Walker called for a more transparent judging process during a recent Mutant & The Mouth Podcast. He was joined by fellow bodybuilders Guy Cisternino and Nick Trigili. Event announcer Bob Cicherillo also weighed in on the issue, dedicating a series of podcasts to explain why Walker lost and to give a detailed explanation of how to score a bodybuilding contest.
Meanwhile, on a recent Prime Time Muscle podcast, bodybuilding veterans Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy addressed the use of glute implants/injections in the IFBB Pro League. Cormier and El Guindy discussed how to detect imbalances related to these procedures and why they consider them a form of cheating in bodybuilding. The issue of balance and proportion in bodybuilding physiques has become increasingly important in recent competitions, prompting discussions on how to score a contest fairly.
Bodybuilding Veterans Cormier and El Guindy Discuss Detecting Imbalances in Physique Due to Implants/Injections
During a recent episode of the Prime Time Muscle podcast, Terrick El Guindy, an IFBB Pro League judge, clarified that female competitors are not being judged based on their breast size or whether they have breast implants. He emphasized that winning the Olympia in female categories can be achieved without such enhancements. This statement comes amid ongoing discussions about the use of implants and injections in bodybuilding competitions and the potential for these enhancements to create imbalances in the physique. As the sport continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and resolved in the future.
“The section where a woman breastfeeds or accumulates natural fat, that’s not being judged in any category. What that means is, whether you have large breasts whether you don’t have large breasts whether you have an implant, it’s up to you, it makes zero difference on the judging.”
“It doesn’t matter at all,” says El Guindy. “I don’t know if Marueen Blanquisco has augmentation or not or the girl in 10th place has augmentation or not – I don’t look at it, I don’t judge it, I don’t even have time to look at it. What I am looking at — the abdominals section, I’m looking at glutes, I’m looking at legs, is she over-conditioned? Is there too many veins and this or that.”
“I couldn’t tell who had augmentation and who doesn’t It’s not important, you can win the Olympia without it,” El Guindy stated. “As judges we don’t have the time to look at it. Now going back to the difference between glutes and breats, is that we are judging the glutes. We are judging the glutes. So, if you show up on stage with an imbalance which is not natural to the anatomy indentation… exactly, there is, and Chris and I talk about it, the human anatomy where the glutes connect with the hamstrings.”
El Guindy explained how judges focus on the natural indentation connecting the glutes to the hamstrings.
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It doesn’t matter, men and women, if you look at a famous picture of Ronnie Coleman when he squeezes his glutes, there’s a natural indentation of the glute going into the hamstring. You look at Franciella Mattos – the current Wellness champion, there’s a natural indendation into the glutes going into the hamstrings.”
“When you don’t have what a lot of girls call the teardrop when it just goes down and just stops and there’s extra volume, that’s an imbalance and judges are going to catch it. You’re going to go from, ‘Hey, I never had butt implants, I was winning shows, I was in the first call-out.’ To now, hey, ‘You have an imbalance and now you end up on the last call-out,” El Guindy added.
El Guindy also pointed out that an uneven development between the legs and glutes can also indicate an imbalance.
“I’m not sure I could quite reveal some of our strategies to identify it – I have no problem because first of all, just the facts,” El Guindy said. “Then, you look at the development of the leg, it doesn’t match the development of the glutes.”
“And it’s going to get worse as you get older,” Cormier said.
El Guindy noted that the way an athlete walks on stage can also reveal whether they have undergone an implant or injection.
“Whether you like it or not, you have to walk to that spot [on stage]. And when you walk and stuff doesn’t move naturally, like we’ve seen for the last thousands of years, something is wrong,” El Guindy explained. “So, I want to understand why some of them try to do it. Because it’s really cheating, right?”
“This competitor who just used some type of you know, imbalance, did not do what you’re supposed to do which is bodybuilding. You’re building your body; it’s not called implant-building. It’s bodybuilding. It requires the breakdown of protein and building muscle.”
El Guindy’s expertise has allowed him to witness competitors who were close to winning drop to the last call-out due to injection/implant imbalances.
“You’re absolutely right, we’re trained to identify not only when you pose but when you walk. It’s sad because a lot of times, I’ve judged some shows where I said, ‘Man, this person had the potential of winning, men or women, the potential of actually winning the entire show,’ but somehow because of an imbalance they actually lost and went into the last call-out, we see that a lot.”
Cormier and El Guindy Urge Bodybuilders to Avoid Site-Enhancement Oils
Bodybuilding veterans Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy have been vocal about their opposition to the use of site-enhancement oils, such as Synthol, in the sport. In a previous discussion, they highlighted the damage that can be caused by such substances, including poor blood circulation and lifelong muscle damage. Cormier and El Guindy urged competitors to avoid these shortcuts and instead focus on hard work and dedication to achieve a balanced and proportionate physique.
Expertise of El Guindy: Witnessing the Effects of Injection/Implant Imbalances
Terrick El Guindy, a bodybuilding judge, has witnessed firsthand the effects of injection and implant imbalances in competitors. He explained that imbalances in the glutes and legs, as well as an unnatural gait on stage, can indicate the use of enhancements. El Guindy emphasized the importance of maintaining balance and proportion in a bodybuilding physique, and how resorting to enhancements can be seen as a form of cheating. He stressed that the sport’s top titles, such as the Olympia, can still be won without resorting to these types of shortcuts.
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Overview
In recent discussions within the bodybuilding community, experts have debated whether glute implants and injections constitute cheating in the IFBB Pro League. Bodybuilding veterans Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy argue that these enhancements create a false impression of a well-rounded physique, detracting from an athlete’s hard work and dedication to achieve balance and symmetry. Judging transparency in bodybuilding has become a hot topic, especially after recent competitions, with calls for a more fair and objective scoring system. Additionally, the issue of detecting imbalances related to glute implants and injections has become increasingly important in recent competitions, prompting discussions on how to score a contest fairly. The sport continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and resolved in the future.
Featured Image @ Olympia TV (Youtube)
