Rich Piana

Richard Piana was an American bodybuilder who won the Mr. California title along with competitions in Los Angeles in 2003 and Sacramento in 2009. His admission in 2016 that he used steroids as part of his regimen was controversial. Piana often appeared in commercials and television series such as Scrubs and Ripley's Believe It or Not. He was a stuntman in the film Planet of the Apes and was the owner of 5% Nutrition. In 1998 he was named Mr California having won the Mr Teen California aged 18, nine years earlier. He was a controversial figure having openly admitted using steroids for more than 30 years and was thrust into the spotlight in 2016 when he openly admitted he uses the drug to gain muscle mass. Rich no longer took part in bodybuilding competitions in his final years, spending his time catering to his massive online following and promoting his business. In a YouTube video he posted in 2016, Piana said he took steroids on-and-off over the course of 27 years, and advised his followers against the same unhealthy routine, while ultimately backing up his decision. Adding 'If you have the choice to do steroids or stay natural, stay natural. There's no reason to do steroids, you're only hurting your body and hurting yourself'. He died at August 25 morning after spending more than two weeks in an induced coma.