Report: More Details Released on Bodybuilder Rich Piana’s Death

The cause of death for longtime bodybuilder Rich Piana, who died in August, has not been released. But a report from TMZ shows that he “would snort lines of pre-workout powder like it was cocaine.”

TMZ cited his death report for the information.

Investigators found white powder at the apartment where Piana suffered a medical emergency, according to the entertainment news website. He died nearly three weeks later.

His girlfriend, Chanel Jansen, told investigators that “it was CON-CRET PRE workout powder (Lemon-Lime) ... which is advertised as a high-caffeine booster.”

Piana was 46 years old.

He was considered a controversial figure in the world of bodybuilding due to his open admission of using steroids. He was well-known, having more than a million followers on Instagram and often appeared in high-view YouTube videos.

“If you want to become a professional bodybuilder, guess what—you’re probably going to have to [expletive] do ‘em,” he said in one 2014 video about using steroids. “You’re not going to have a choice.”

Piana was open about his steroid usage. Instagram

“If you have the choice to stay natural or do steroids, stay natural. There’s no reason to do steroids, you’re only hurting your body, you’re hurting yourself,” he explained, according to People magazine.

“Is this a road I think you should take? Absolutely not. But in doing this for 25 years of taking anabolic steroids, obviously, I know what the [expletive] I’m doing,” he said in a December 2014 YouTube video about how to do steroids properly. “Why do I have a full head of hair? Why do I have no acne scars? Why do I have a flat waist? Cause I know what the [expletive] I’m doing.”

“You need to be aware, educated, and willing to do whatever it takes to remain healthy and keep the body healthy. Remember this is longevity. We want to be doing this in our 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s,” he continued. “I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life. … It’s important for me to live a long life.”

He added: “Bodybuilding is not my main objective in life. It’s just something I do on the side. So I would never in a million years risk ruining my health or ruining my future do to bodybuilding.”

Aside from the fact that they’re illegal, steroids can cause some pretty extreme side effects, including, but not limited to, the following:

- Infections - Allergic reactions - Bleeding into the joints - Rupture of tendons - Skin discoloration - Weakening of bone, ligaments, and tendons (from frequent, repeated injections into the same area)

His death came just days after bodybuilder Dallas McCarver died at the age of 26 after choking on food.