Lee Priest is not mincing words again: 'Judges are like politicians'

Australian bodybuilding legend Lee Priest is known for saying things straight, no matter who he pisses off. Now he's once again taken on one of the most sensitive topics in professional bodybuilding - decision making - and his analogy is a poignant one indeed.

In a recent interview, Priest compared bodybuilding judges to politicians, accusing them of a lack of integrity and fear for their own positions.

Why politicians?

According to Priest, the problem is that the judges are not truly independent. Instead of evaluating what they realistically see on the stage, they often go by what is "expected" of them or what is in the best interest of the federation.

"They are like politicians," Priest said, " They have to toe the party line to keep their jobs."

He explained that if a judge went against the grain and placed an "expected" winner as high as third place, for example (even if he deserved it), he would risk serious penalties.

"They would immediately be called on the carpet asking, 'Why did you put him all the way to third place?" describes Priest. "They're afraid they'll lose their jobs, that they won't be invited to any more competitions. So they'd rather do what's asked of them."

Where does the wind blow from?

This harsh criticism comes at a time when decision-making in bodybuilding is a much-discussed topic. Although Priest didn't mention it directly, his words resonate with controversies such as the tense battle between Samson Dauda and Hadi Choopan at the 2024 Arnold Classic, where fans and experts alike couldn't agree on a clear winner.

Priest's criticism suggests that even if the judges wanted to judge objectively, the system does not allow them to do so.

Priest's ideal: True independence

What would be Priest's ideal solution? Simply that the judges be able to evaluate without fear.

In his view, there should be no problem if nine judges had one winner and the tenth judge had him in fourth place - as long as that was his honest opinion. The problem arises when that tenth judge is afraid to put his honest opinion on paper.

This is not the first time Lee Priest has "rocked the boat" in this way. His outspokenness has caused him some problems in the past with the IFBB Pro League. His latest comments only confirm his reputation as a rebel who is not afraid to speak out about issues that others prefer to turn a blind eye to.