KUALA LUMPUR — Ten-time Mr Universe title winner Sazali Samad is making a comeback to the competitive scene but he is not in it for the gold but to be an inspiration to the up-and-coming bodybuilders.
Speaking to Scoop, Sazali said that he wants to prove to people and youngsters in the bodybuilding sport that everything is possible.
In 2015, the four-time National Sportsman Award recipient was handed a four-year suspension by the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (Adamas) for failing a doping test.
He was supposed to come out of his suspension in 2019 but was found guilty in 2018 of breaching the suspension by competing in the China Sports Show Fearless Bodybuilding Physique & Bikini Championships.
This led to another four-year suspension which ended in September this year.
“During my eight-year ban during the Covid-19 pandemic, I managed to keep up with my healthy diet and training.
“I continued living my life despite everything that happened to me,” he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, Sazali said that he has not set a target to win any competitions but he just wants to focus on sharing the healthy lifestyle of a bodybuilder.
“Some sponsors stepped up and then I started working towards getting my physique back. Now people are waiting to see me back on stage.
“I have not set any targets in terms of winning competitions as to ready my body takes a lot of sacrifice and time,” he said, adding that it takes three months for a bodybuilder to prepare a competition-ready physique
“So, my return to the scene now is to show people that with whatever I went through, I could still maintain my physique until today,” he added.
However, the 56-year-old said that it was not easy to maintain his physique, especially with his age catching up, adding that his motivation to continue in the sport is still strong.
“Pumping iron is in my soul, and it is still strong. I want to share that with today’s generation. I want my son Muhd Hazim to follow me to competitions, so we can be a father and son duo,” he said.
At the same time, Sazali denied that the success of fellow bodybuilder Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah, casually known as Mike Mahen, spurred his interest in returning to the sport.
He said that Mike is competing in a different category.
“I know Mike’s success, but I’m in bodybuilding and he focuses on athletic physique. So, we are in different categories.
“During my suspension, I have not seen anyone take my place to compete with international athletes,” he said.
The main difference between bodybuilders and men’s physique competitors is that the former is all about size and mass while the latter is about creating a pleasing visual appearance. — November 20, 2023