Lee Haney on kidney failure: 'Steroids aren't to blame, I'm resigned to whatever comes'

Legendary bodybuilder Lee Haney, who dominated the podium in the 1980s and won eight Mr. Olympia titles (a record he shares with Ronnie Coleman), is currently facing serious health problems. Recently, he has suffered from the failure of one of his kidneys due to polycystic disease. As a result, Haney turned to the fitness community in the hope of finding a living donor, offering to cover all the costs of testing and the transplant itself. In a recent interview, he openly shared what the diagnosis has brought him and refuted speculation that anabolic steroids were behind his condition.

The unusual revelation of the diagnosis

The way Haney found out that there was something wrong with his body sounds almost unbelievable.

"A goat got away, so we had to chase it. When I caught him and jumped on him, I got hit in the stomach. Later I had blood in my urine and went to the doctor to have it looked at. After examining me, he said, "Lee, you have a cyst on your kidney. Someone in your family must have had congenital polycystic kidney disease," Haney described the unexpected beginning of his health problems.

Steroids weren't to blame.

In the bodybuilding world, the use of performance-enhancing substances is often immediately pointed to when similar problems arise. But Haney firmly rejects these rumours and explains that it is a genetic thing.

"I get it. I've seen the comments online, but people just don't know what they don't know. I don't blame them for making those assumptions because that's often the case in our industry. But in my case, it's different. My uncle, who was 75 and never competed, as well as several of my cousins, have struggled with kidney disease. It's genetics. Moreover, my bodybuilding career was quite short," he explained to set the situation straight.

Gratitude and inner peace

Despite the gravity of the situation, Haney feels good and remains admirably optimistic.

"A lot of people panic and say: Oh no, Lee, but I say no, it's not like that. I feel great. I'm functioning normally. I'm at peace with any situation that arises. I'm happy that a few people have already come forward willing to take the tests," he said with equanimity. "If I get a second chance, it will be great, but I've already had an amazing life. Everything is absolutely fine."

Kudos to the current generation: Andrew Jacked

Despite his health problems, Haney continues to keep a close eye on the current scene. He was very clear about the recent Arnold Classic results, sparing no praise for Andrew Jacked. According to him, tall competitors like Jacked or Samson Dauda have much better proportions and "flow" than shorter bodybuilders who often look too stocky.

"Andrew has brought incredible form. [...] He was simply the best of the best, period. No one even came close to him. And that's what I like about bodybuilding today. You've got guys like Andrew and Samson - they've got huge mass, but their height makes it look so much better and aesthetically pleasing," he added appreciatively.

Lee Haney continues to inspire not only the next generation of bodybuilders, but also the general public. His approach to life's difficult test shows the mentality of a true champion - full of determination, combativeness, but also a deep inner peace and gratitude. One can only hope that a suitable donor will soon be found and the legend will get his well-deserved second chance.