Afghanistan Bodybuilding article in LA Times

A few years ago, I ran an article on Afghanistan bodybuilding and how the sport is exploding like nowhere else. If you'd like to check out the article, here it is.

In any case, I recently came across an interesting feature in the LA Times where they dove back into the subject of Afghan bodybuilding. It profiled a Mr. Afghanistan hopeful named Hamidullah Sharzai, and also talked about how freely bodybuilders can get steroids in the country. After all, steroids are not illegal in Afghanistan, and they are sold for $5 a box according to the article.

I liked how one of the shop owners who sold steroids and other bodybuilding supplies told the LA Times journalist that he only sells roids to experienced athletes. For the newer bodybuilders, he makes them wait at least 4 months because they would be damaging their bodies.

Another thing that struck me as fascinating is how competitive the sports is in Afghanistan. It is so competitive, in fact, that one of the people interviewed in the article thinks that last year's Mr. Afghanistan, Arif Sakhi, died because competitors poisoned him. And as another man in the article said about the lack of a Mr. Afghanistan prize, "If there was a prize, people would probably try to kill each other for it."

The whole article is very entertaining, and if you'd like to check it out, here is the link.

Author: George Spellwin