28-year-old Brazilian bodybuilder dies of cardiac arrest while training

The world of bodybuilding is once again in mourning. Aged 28, Brazilian José Matheus Correia Silva died last week while training. The bodybuilder, whose main sporting achievement was a ninth place at the South American championships in 2018, was at the gym when he felt unwell. He lost consciousness on the way to the hospital, and firefighters were unable to resuscitate him despite an effort praised by the bodybuilder's family.

José Matheus Correia Silva had no medical problems known to those close to him. He had stopped competing to concentrate on his commercial activities, linked to his sporting practice: he had launched a nutrition line and a fitness brand, and trained other athletes.

In September, a 19-year-old bodybuilder died

In September, a young 19-year-old Brazilian bodybuilder, Matheus Pavlak, died after “suffering a heart attack”. So many premature deaths raise the question of doping in an environment where the use of anabolic steroids and other doping substances is largely democratized.