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Dozens of bodybuilders were "sexually exploited by officials from two major organizations who pressured them into posing for nude photos, posting those photos on softcore adult sites", a Washington Post research has found.
According to the Washington Post investigation, for more than 15 years, J.M. Manion, whose father, Jim, has been running amateur and professional bodybuilding contests for decades, took the photos and operated a network of paid softcore websites that at one point advertised "more than 30,000 images" of competitors in the sport.
A Post review of the website's archives identified more than 200 female athletes in photographs ranging from casual bikini shots to graphic and sexual images, including those of nude women together in beds, bathtubs and showers. One of J.M.'s sites, Fitness Divas, bluntly stated, "Your favorite fitness athletes…naked!"
Jenn Gates, who won the figure category at the prestigious Olympia contest in 2008, graced the covers of fitness magazines and earned enough endorsement money to quit her nursing job. Her manager, J.M., asked her to remove her bikini top and bottoms for photos of her. Gates refused and was shocked to learn recently from Post reporters that photos of her in her bathing suit had appeared alongside naked female competitors on one of J.M.
"I never consented to my photos being put on a softcore site," Gates said during an interview at her home in Indianapolis. Less than three years after winning the Olympia, Gates left the sport in disgust and warns young women to stay away from pageants.
Interviews with dozens of female competitors, judges, officials and others associated with the sport reveal the systematic exploitation of female athletes, who are often made vulnerable by extreme dieting and exercise, lack of financial stability and the desire to gain. The Post found that some women believed their scores hinged on their willingness to pose for sexual photos or to please the sport's top judges, promoters and managers, almost all of whom are men.
A Washington Post investigation into a fact about the exploitation of women in bodybuilding led to the family that has dominated the sport for decades. This multi-part series explores the family management of sport and its impact on the thousands of athletes who participate.
Mandy Henderson, a former sheriff's deputy in Santa Clara County, California, detailed in an interview how the pressure was put on women. She accepted nude photography with the expectation of earning a professional card, which allows athletes to progress from amateur competitions to the professional league. A pro card can mean more money, sponsorships, and the chance to compete in the main competitions: the Arnold Classic and the Olympia.
A Washington Post investigation found that dozens of female athletes were sexually exploited by officials from America's two major bodybuilding federations.
J.M., who runs the sport's online news operation, also oversaw a management company that ran the races of top female competitors, including Gates. It served as a gateway to endorsement deals, magazine covers and other financially promising opportunities and could close off earning potential or competitive success if an athlete were to cross it, numerous competitors said.
Two former officials told The Post they saw other officials inflate scorecards in favor of competitors managed by J.M. or try.
Steve O'Brien, who served as the NPC's judge and district chairman for Northern California, recounted two incidents in which he said John Tuman, a judge, changed scores, once after O'Brien observed him. discussing locations with Jim and J.M. Manion.
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