Bodybuilder Rich Piana Dead

According to TMZ, the District Six Medical Examiner in Florida has confirmed that famed bodybuilder Rich Piana has passed away after spending weeks in a coma. Piana collapsed on August 7th at his home while getting a haircut from his girlfriend, Chanel Jansen. The Daily Mail reported that the 46-year-old struck his head as he fell. After trying to revive the unresponsive bodybuilder, Jansen made a frantic 911 call for help and indicated that Piana had suffered a possible overdose.

Piana is a well-known figure in the bodybuilding community. With a staggeringly large social media following, Piana influenced many up and coming muscle-building fans. The former Mr. California was also well known for admitting to taking steroids consistently since he was a teen. While he cautioned others against using the illegal substance, it was a hallmark of his career.

In one of his wildly successful training videos, Piana explained his choice, saying, “If you have the choice to steroids or stay natural, stay natural stay natural. There’s no reason to do steroids, you’re only hurting your body and hurting yourself. But if you want to become a professional bodybuilder, guess what? You’re probably going to have to f**cking do them, you’re not going to have a choice. That’s the boat I was in. I was competing on stage and I was getting to the point where I was getting blown off stage if I wasn’t going to do steroids, so I took that step.”

It's unknown if steroid abuse or any other narcotics played a role in Piana's death. In fact, A preliminary report indicates that search at his apartment yielded more than 20 bottles of steroids and a white powder. Further investigation and an autopsy are certain to follow.

Piana had a decorated career in professional bodybuilding. He placed first in the Sacramento Pro and also at the Border States Classic XXX Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships in 2009. In 1999 the hulking bodybuilder took 7th at the NPC USA Championships in and made 11th in 2003. He also had a record bench press of 495 pounds (3 reps) and record squat of 585 pounds (2 reps).

Piana was also an entrepreneur, with business in the health supplement industry, a clothing line, and a food delivery service.

This is the second hit to the bodybuilding community this month as Bodybuilding pro-Dallas McCarver‘s life came to a tragic end when he apparently choked on food on August 22nd.

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