Quote from Editor on October 27, 2024, 10:00 pmLast-minute rule changes prevent some from competing despite weeks of planning
LAST-MINUTE rule changes meant some competitors were prevented from competing at the BPA Super Show – with some even failing to compete at the IFBB Pro Night of Champions.
Many competitors had battled hours of delays in rush-hour traffic to register at Heathrow airport on Friday October 25. But upon arrival they were informed that anyone who had been offered an invitation to apply for an IFBB Pro Card at the BPA British Finals would not be able to compete in the Super Show. This despite the fact some had not registered their pro card with the IFBB and were in fact still amateurs.
It is understood the late change in the rule came from sponsor Dr Vic, who did not want those who had already gained an invitation to turn professional preventing others from doing the same. However, this question had already been put to the BPA weeks in advance of the competition. Frontdouble was assured this would not be the case as IFBB Pro Cards could be awarded to those who were of that standard, regardless of their placing.
To further compound the confusion, another competitor who won their invitation for an IFBB Pro Card at the UKBFF was allowed to compete as an amateur.
Frontdouble.com has been told that the reason this competitor was allowed to still compete as an amateur is because the UKBFF had cancelled their invitation after the athlete competed with NABBA after winning the IFBB Pro Card.
Some confusion in the rules remains, however. The competitor in question won pro status in that competition with NABBA and will compete in the Pro Mr Universe competition on Sunday. So they re-won their IFBB Pro Card and competed in the IFBB Pro Night of Champions on Saturday, winning prize money, but will now cancel that IFBB Pro card in order to compete as a NABBA Pro on Sunday. This is clearly within the rules, however confusing they might be, but some athletes might question whether it is in the spirit of competition.
The confusion did not end there. The IFBB Pro show, the Night of Champions, was advertised as a 'try before you buy' event. At the time of announcing the news in June, BPA President Helen O'Reilly said: "It's a try before you buy sort of thing. You've won it [invitation to compete as a pro ], try it, continue as a pro or go back to amateur. Then within the year decide to be a pro or continue as an amateur."
But upon arriving to register for the show, some competitors were told that the IFBB Pro federation had just informed the BPA that this was no longer the case – and that in order to compete in the Night of Champions athletes must fork out €250 to register their pro cards.
Frontdouble.com has since been told, however, that some competitors were asked to pay €180 – and some were told they did not have to pay anything at all. Some were later even offered the "try before you buy" option that others were told was no longer on the table.
One competitor, having been told they could not compete in the Super Show but had to pay €250 if they still wanted to do the pro show, decided this was not in the spirit of what had been promised and went home. It is understood they would have competed as originally planned if this had been explained to them more clearly.
O'Reilly said: "The IFBB Pro head judge wanted bodybuilders to compete because there were only three registered. He then offered everyone either an opportunity just to compete in the show and return to amateur or go full on pro and pay the €250.
"With regard to the Super Show and the British, the IFBB Pro Cards were given in order to allow competitors to compete in the Night of Champions. Therefore, after putting on the pro show with prize money, Dr Vic said he didn't want anyone who had been awarded the card to compete at the Super Show as it would stop others gaining that opportunity.
"The person who won his pro card with UKBFF had it taken from them by that federation because he had then competed with NABBA. We [the BPA] gave him the chance to win it [IFBB Pro Card] back but the provision was he couldn't win prize money in the amateur show, only the opportunity to compete in the evening. He agreed to compete under that provision.
"A female competitor was allowed to compete as an amateur [despite winning her Pro Card at the BPA British Finals] because there wasn't a route to the pro in the evening for her.
"BPA can only apologise for the issues but the IFBB pro is someone new we were dealing with and there was obviously miscommunication."
LAST-MINUTE rule changes meant some competitors were prevented from competing at the BPA Super Show – with some even failing to compete at the IFBB Pro Night of Champions.
Many competitors had battled hours of delays in rush-hour traffic to register at Heathrow airport on Friday October 25. But upon arrival they were informed that anyone who had been offered an invitation to apply for an IFBB Pro Card at the BPA British Finals would not be able to compete in the Super Show. This despite the fact some had not registered their pro card with the IFBB and were in fact still amateurs.
It is understood the late change in the rule came from sponsor Dr Vic, who did not want those who had already gained an invitation to turn professional preventing others from doing the same. However, this question had already been put to the BPA weeks in advance of the competition. Frontdouble was assured this would not be the case as IFBB Pro Cards could be awarded to those who were of that standard, regardless of their placing.
To further compound the confusion, another competitor who won their invitation for an IFBB Pro Card at the UKBFF was allowed to compete as an amateur.
Frontdouble.com has been told that the reason this competitor was allowed to still compete as an amateur is because the UKBFF had cancelled their invitation after the athlete competed with NABBA after winning the IFBB Pro Card.
Some confusion in the rules remains, however. The competitor in question won pro status in that competition with NABBA and will compete in the Pro Mr Universe competition on Sunday. So they re-won their IFBB Pro Card and competed in the IFBB Pro Night of Champions on Saturday, winning prize money, but will now cancel that IFBB Pro card in order to compete as a NABBA Pro on Sunday. This is clearly within the rules, however confusing they might be, but some athletes might question whether it is in the spirit of competition.
The confusion did not end there. The IFBB Pro show, the Night of Champions, was advertised as a 'try before you buy' event. At the time of announcing the news in June, BPA President Helen O'Reilly said: "It's a try before you buy sort of thing. You've won it [invitation to compete as a pro ], try it, continue as a pro or go back to amateur. Then within the year decide to be a pro or continue as an amateur."
But upon arriving to register for the show, some competitors were told that the IFBB Pro federation had just informed the BPA that this was no longer the case – and that in order to compete in the Night of Champions athletes must fork out €250 to register their pro cards.
Frontdouble.com has since been told, however, that some competitors were asked to pay €180 – and some were told they did not have to pay anything at all. Some were later even offered the "try before you buy" option that others were told was no longer on the table.
One competitor, having been told they could not compete in the Super Show but had to pay €250 if they still wanted to do the pro show, decided this was not in the spirit of what had been promised and went home. It is understood they would have competed as originally planned if this had been explained to them more clearly.
O'Reilly said: "The IFBB Pro head judge wanted bodybuilders to compete because there were only three registered. He then offered everyone either an opportunity just to compete in the show and return to amateur or go full on pro and pay the €250.
"With regard to the Super Show and the British, the IFBB Pro Cards were given in order to allow competitors to compete in the Night of Champions. Therefore, after putting on the pro show with prize money, Dr Vic said he didn't want anyone who had been awarded the card to compete at the Super Show as it would stop others gaining that opportunity.
"The person who won his pro card with UKBFF had it taken from them by that federation because he had then competed with NABBA. We [the BPA] gave him the chance to win it [IFBB Pro Card] back but the provision was he couldn't win prize money in the amateur show, only the opportunity to compete in the evening. He agreed to compete under that provision.
"A female competitor was allowed to compete as an amateur [despite winning her Pro Card at the BPA British Finals] because there wasn't a route to the pro in the evening for her.
"BPA can only apologise for the issues but the IFBB pro is someone new we were dealing with and there was obviously miscommunication."
