Toney Freeman

Toney Freeman
— Bodybuilder —

2009 IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII
Personal info
Nickname The X-Man
Born (1966-08-30) August 30, 1966
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Height 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight 280-285 lbs. (on-season)
295-300 lbs. (off-season)
Professional career
Best win 2007 Sacramento Pro Champion, 1999-2003
Predecessor Gustavo Badell
Successor TBA
Active Yes

Toney Freeman (born August 30, 1966) is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and brand ambassador residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Biography

Freeman's nickname is The X-Man because his body characterizes the "X-frame" of classical bodybuilding: broad shoulders, narrow waist, and flaring thighs. He has been featured on the cover and pages of Flex, Muscular Development, and Musclemag. Freeman did not become a competitive bodybuilder until his late 30s because, for many years, it was a hobby and the sport was dominated by his idols Lee Haney and Dorian Yates.

It took Freeman many years to fill out his large frame and he was mentored by Dave Palumbo to become a professional. Freeman's first (National Physique Committee (NPC)) competition was in 1993, where he won the heavyweight class of the NPC Junior Nationals. His first IFBB event was the Night of Champions competition, where he placed 11th. His first Arnold Classic was in 2005, where he placed 10th. His first Ironman Pro Invitational was in 2006, where he placed 7th. His first Mr. Olympia appearance was in 2006, where he placed 7th. In 2007, he won the Ironman Pro and Sacramento Pro and placed 3rd at the Arnold Classic. He made the top 5 at the 2008 Mr. Olympia.[1]

On December 8, 2010, during a visit to Sweden, Freeman was escorted by the police from Sundsvall while undertaking a promotional appearance in a local store. The police knew Freeman and other international bodybuilders were coming to Sweden for a fitness festival from promotional posters. According to Freeman, he was taken to the police station and was denied a legal representative and forced to give a urine sample.[2] Reports allege that Freeman tested positive for testosterone, human growth hormone, and cannabis.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He was released the same day with no charge. On December 31, 2010, Freeman responded to the allegations with an official statement and a video in which he emphasized he had not been treated properly by being denied an advocate or communication with the U.S. embassy.[9][10]

Freeman became the first international professional bodybuilder to be detained by the Swedish police under "muscle profiling",[11] a profiling method used by Swedish police in which suspicion of performance-enhancing drug use is based solely on physical appearance.[12] The possession of such substances as steroids is illegal in Sweden. According to others who have been detained in this manner, police use the size and appearance of the bodybuilder to detain them, then aim to prove their case with blood or urine samples taken at the station.[13] Police staff member Henrik Blusi generalized the actions taken against Freeman to all professional bodybuilders, saying: "If you are a professional bodybuilder you should not come to Sundsvall. We are very well informed here. We are currently conducting the largest doping trial in Europe, and then one should understand that we have an eye out for these things now."[14]

Stats

Competitive history

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bodybuilder profiles: Toney Freeman". bodybuilding.com. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  2. ↑ Millard Baker (3 January 2011). "Pro Bodybuilder Toney Freeman Speaks Out Against Sweden War on Bodybuilders". Mesomorphosis. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  3. ↑ William Svärd (2010). "Kroppsbyggarstjärna greps för dopningsbrott (Bodybuilder star detained for doping crime)" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  4. ↑ Malin Elfving (2010). "Här grips stjärnan misstänkt för dopningsbrott" (in Swedish). Sundsvalls tidning. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  5. ↑ "Känd bodybuilder gripen i Sundsvall" (Web TV) (in Swedish). Expressen. 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  6. ↑ Joe Pietaro (9 December 2010). "Toney Freeman arrested in Sweden". Muscles production (blog). Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  7. ↑ Jewbacca Singerman (9 December 2010). "Muscle Gossip #9: Freeman Taken into Custody in Sweden!". RX Muscle. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Toney Freeman in Schweden verhaftet" (in German). Body Xtreme. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  9. ↑ "Toney Freeman press statement". Google docs. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Toney Freeman - New Year Greetings". YouTube. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "no title known" (in Swedish). Metro. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  12. ↑ millardbaker (11 May 2009). "IFBB Pro Bodybuilders Martin Kjellström and Irene Andersen Interrogated in Swedish Steroid Investigation". Zimbio. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Man arrested for having big muscles". The local. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  14. ↑ "Här grips stjärnan misstänkt för dopningsbrott" (in Swedish). Sundsvalls Tidning. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
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