Last-minute rule changes prevent some from competing despite weeks of planning
LATE rule changes meant some athletes were prevented from competing at the BPA Super Show – with some even failing to step on stage as planned at the IFBB Pro Night of Champions.
Upon arrival at registration, some 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 rule change came from sponsor Dr Vic. He 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. Frontdouble was told that IFBB Pro Cards could be awarded to those who were of that standard, regardless of their placing.
To compound the confusion, another competitor who won their invitation for an IFBB Pro Card at the UKBFF was allowed to compete as an amateur with the BPA.
UKBFF cancel IFBB Pro Card after athlete competed with NABBA
The reason the competitor was allowed to do this, is because the UKBFF had cancelled that IFBB Pro Card after they competed with NABBA.
Some confusion in the rules remains, however. The competitor in question won pro status with NABBA and will compete in the Pro Mr Universe on Sunday. They re-won their IFBB Pro Card at the BPA Super Show and competed in the IFBB Pro Night of Champions on Saturday. They 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 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, 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 available.
One competitor, having been told they could not compete in the Super Show but had to pay €250 if they wanted to do the pro show, decided this was not in the spirit of what had been promised. The eventually decided not to compete at all. It is understood, however, that they would have competed as originally planned if they were told the "try before you buy" offer was still available.
The BPA can only apologise for the issues
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 prevent some from competing despite weeks of planning
LATE rule changes meant some athletes were prevented from competing at the BPA Super Show – with some even failing to step on stage as planned at the IFBB Pro Night of Champions.
Upon arrival at registration, some 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 rule change came from sponsor Dr Vic. He 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. Frontdouble was told that IFBB Pro Cards could be awarded to those who were of that standard, regardless of their placing.
To compound the confusion, another competitor who won their invitation for an IFBB Pro Card at the UKBFF was allowed to compete as an amateur with the BPA.
UKBFF cancel IFBB Pro Card after athlete competed with NABBA
The reason the competitor was allowed to do this, is because the UKBFF had cancelled that IFBB Pro Card after they competed with NABBA.
Some confusion in the rules remains, however. The competitor in question won pro status with NABBA and will compete in the Pro Mr Universe on Sunday. They re-won their IFBB Pro Card at the BPA Super Show and competed in the IFBB Pro Night of Champions on Saturday. They 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 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, 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 available.
One competitor, having been told they could not compete in the Super Show but had to pay €250 if they wanted to do the pro show, decided this was not in the spirit of what had been promised. The eventually decided not to compete at all. It is understood, however, that they would have competed as originally planned if they were told the "try before you buy" offer was still available.
The BPA can only apologise for the issues
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."
Subscribe to receive the latest articles and updates.
Frontdouble.com is a new online bodybuilding magazine. We are always interested in contributions. If you would like to share your bodybuilding journey, either through writing about your training or offering nutrition tips, or showing some of your videos, then please send an email to the editor here: info@frontdouble.com
