The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS a result of all the turmoil from the unsanctioned Caribbean Grand Prix Pro Qualifier in December, the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation will go back to the membership to decide on the executive team to continue to operate the affairs for the sport in the country.

Former bodybuilder Joel Stubbs, who was re-elected for his second term on February 10, 2018, had stepped down as a result of the controversy but is adamant that he will be returned to office when the election takes place on Saturday, May 11.

The election will take place at J-Line Fitness Center noon to 2 pm.

More than 70 persons, including the athletes, coaches, judges and executives, will be eligible to vote next weekend.

With the nominations now closed, Stubbs is expected to be challenged by Wellington ‘Cat’ Sears for president.

Incumbent Kenny Green will also be challenged by Sears for the post of vice president.

Nominated in the other positions are Stephen Robinson and Ingrid Bain will be seeking to replace Lillian Moncur as secretary general as Moncur has opted not to run again, while incumbent Brittany Hamilton will be challenged by Rellington Rolle for treasurer and for assistant treasurer/secretary will be Zanetta Cambridge and Sears.

Danny Sumner, a vice president of the Central American and Caribean board of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and the president of the Northern Antilles Region, is serving as the interim president and will conduct the elections.

In December at Atlantis on Paradise Island, the Caribbean Grand Prix Pro Qualifier was held by the National Physique Committee without the sanction by the IFBB. The IFBB had severed ties with the NPC in 2017 and banned all its athletes from taking part in any NPC shows.

According to Stubbs, he advised Bahamian competitors not to compete, but some still did.

Raynor Ferguson, a gold medallist from the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, was one of those Bahamians who competed. Ferguson eventually won the overall title in the men’s physique and was awarded his pro card.

Stubbs said as a result of what transpired at the NPC contest, the IFBB suspended him indefinitely and he and his executives had planned to resign. But he said the membership encouraged them to stay on board and so it was agreed to have the new elections.

“The membership want us back, so I’m going back to continue the work that we started,” said Stubbs, who is confident that he can defeat Sears. “My work is not done yet.

“We still have some more athletes who endure getting their pro cards and who want to do well and represent the country in bodybuilding and fitness, so I want to go back and encourage them as best as I can.”

Stubbs, who originally replaced Sumner as president in 2015, said he’s eager to regain the approval of the membership as president once again. He received his pro card in 2003 at the Central American and Caribbean Championships.

During his competitive days, the Bahamasair pilot and uncle of Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo was regarded as one of the world’s biggest bodybuilders because of his incredibly large back.

However, his underdeveloped legs, due to an injury he sustained to his knee during a basketball game, forced him to retire prematurely and now he is devoting his time and energy as a coach and executive in local bodybuilding.