THE FEMALE PHYSIQUE WEBZINE/GALLERY

WHY ANDRULLA BLANCHETTE DIDN'T COMPETE
AT THE 2002 MS. INTERNATIONAL

Wayne Demilia Explains
Wayne Demilia

Andrulla Blanchette showed up in Columbus in February in great shape and ready to compete in the Ms. International .

Imagine her shock when Wayne Demilia, head of the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Committee, told her she was not eligible to compete since she hadn't signed and sent in her contract so that neither he nor Arnold's co-promoter Jim Lorimer had known she intended to enter the contest.

Andrulla explained that she had been in the process of moving and had not gotten the contract. She also questioned why Wayne hadn't noticed he had received no contract from her and tried to get in touch to find out why. She also pointed out that two bodybuilders had competed in the recent Mr./Ms. Olympia without having signed contracts - Kevin Levrone and Joanna Thomas.

I Emailed Wayne Demilia and asked him for his side of the story. Following is his reply:

[Andrulla] never sent a contract, never contacted us, never
even sent her Pro Application Form, her money came
from Charles Peoples in PA
.
Joanna Thomas was in constant contact with us,
informed us of her whereabouts, and did evenually sign
a contract.

Kevin Levrone did not sign a contract, had not
registered, and paid a $25,000. fine in order to
compete.

Athletes have been very critical of the IFBB when we
are the only organization doing anything for the
athletes. If the athletes want to be treated like
professionals, then they have to act like
professionals.

Myself and other Officials are tired of covering for
athletes, looking the other way, giving the benefit of
the doubt....then being reported as the worst people
in the sport.

I have put out too much of my own money to cover
expenses of shows that lost money that are not mine in
order to keep them going. If it wasn't for me, Jim
Manion, Jan Tana and Jim Lorimer there would not be
any Womens Bodybuilding
.
I hear that Andrulla and Charles Peoples are trying to
start a union, have athletes sign contracts then not
show up in order to show their power to the IFBB.
That will be their final mistake, because if that
happens, we will end Womens Bodybuilding.

Wayne Demilia