The deaths of several young bodybuilders have renewed concern about cardiac risks in competitive bodybuilding. Brazilian professional bodybuilder and fitness influencer Mailson Araujo, 35, became ill at home and later died after posting a gym photo earlier this month in Bahia, northeastern Brazil. The cause of his death has not been confirmed. In late May, 22-year-old Brazilian bodybuilder Gabriel Gunli died of sudden cardiac causes, while other cases have been reported in Brazil, the United States and Germany.

A 2025 study in the European Heart Journal followed nearly 20,000 amateur and professional competitors from 2005 to 2020. It found professional bodybuilders had more than five times the risk of sudden cardiac death compared with amateurs. Of 121 deaths identified, 46 were classified as sudden cardiac deaths. Lead author Dr Marco Vecchiato cited performance-enhancing drugs, rapid pre-contest weight loss and extreme strength training as possible contributing factors.

A Danish study of 1,189 known anabolic steroid users found nearly ninefold higher cardiomyopathy risk and threefold higher heart-attack risk. Autopsies have often found enlarged hearts and thickened left ventricles, though doctors say genetics, training and steroid use may each contribute. Limited recording of steroid-related deaths makes the exact toll difficult to determine.