The Lion Roars - Brief Article

SAMIR "The Lion of Lebanon" BANNOUT has never been accused of being reticent about expressing his point of view on any subject. Mr. Olympia 1983 may have retired from the IFBB pro bodybuilding scene of late, but he has not turned his ample back on promoting the iron sport on an International basis.

Bannout makes regular trips to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Dubal and Qatar to conduct training clinics, spread Information about sports nutrition and promote bodybuilding competitions.

The Lion has a close relationship with the AL-THANI family, the ruling family of Qatar, and he has brought DORIAN YATES, CHRIS CORNIER and MELVIN ANTHONY to that beautiful country for guest posing and seminars.

Caught in the act of eating a canape at Schatzi on Main, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER's bistro in Santa Monica, California, Bannout was quite blunt about what happened at the 2001 Mr. Olympia and the state of pro bodybuilding in the 21st century.

"I'm a good friend of RONNIE COLEMAN, but I have to speak my mind about what went on at the Mr. O. The judges were more interested in size than overall balance, proportion and symmetry. JAY CUTLER was in much better condition than Ronnie and deserved to win the Mr. O title. How could Ronnie get beat in the symmetry and muscularity rounds and still win the Sandow?

"As a former Mr. Olympia, I'm telling you that this was wrong--it sets a dangerous precedent. Is a bodybuilding contest about who has the best physique or a choreography show? There's no way that Ronnie Coleman should have beaten Jay Cutler that day."

To contact Samir for guest appearances or to get more information about his supplement line--Formulated Sciences--e-mail him at slbannout@aol.com.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Weider Publications
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