I’m a bodybuilding legend who came within hours of death after VERY risky decision before a contest
A BODYBUILDING legend has revealed how doctors told him he had less than 24 hours to live following a harrowing health crisis.
Milos Sarcev, 59, who had a decades-long career as a bodybuilder before moving into coaching, almost died after a horror accident more than 20 years ago.
Speaking on Muscle Beach TV, the Serbian-born athlete revealed how the mistake was the "biggest regret" of his life.
During the interview, which was shared by four-time Mr Olympia Jay Cutler on his YouTube channel, Milos admitted he had "sold his soul to the devil" in his bid for bodybuilding stardom.
According to Milos, he decided to take the site enhancement oil Synthol before the 2000 Mr Olympia contest.
The legendary coach revealed that, after injecting the substance into his arms, the Synthol travelled to his heart.
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This simple error resulted in catastrophic congestive heart failure, as well as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome).
Milos was rushed to hospital, where doctors gave him shocking news.
"They told me I have less than 24 hours to live, you know, so it was very serious," he said.
Fortunately, he survived, but once the IFBB (International Federation of BodyBuilding at Fitness) found out about the use of Synthol, he was kicked out of the competition.
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He explained: "They [the IFBB] said even though you're qualified for 2000 Olympia, you cannot compete."
Speaking about the experience, Milos said: "I'm ashamed and embarrassed I did it."
He went on: "It's one of those things, you sell your soul to the devil, you know, because I wanted bigger arms, I was being told with the bigger arms I had a chance to win the shows, and everybody else was doing it, so I decided to do it."
Calling it "the biggest regret of my life," Milos described how the Synthol led to dead and scarred muscle tissue, as well as massive heart complications.
Milos moved into coaching, and he educates and trains bodybuilders to this day.
Currently, he coaches Samson Dauda, who placed sixth at last year's Mr Olympia.
They told me I have less than 24 hours to live
Milos Sarcev
He recently quashed any rumours of a comeback ahead of the return of the Masters Olympia after an 11-year hiatus.
"They asked me if you would compete," he said. "Hell no! Why would I push myself to those limits, I know what it took to get there right."
He also spoke out about the recent numbers of former bodybuilders dying in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
Milos said: "Bodybuilders are dying because we use steroids and you know it’s dangerous, but now you want to encourage old men at the age of 50 plus to pushing like back when they were younger because there’s no way no how that anybody that decides to go now on the Masters can cut their cycle in half because now they are wiser."
In May last year, world-famous Polish bodybuilder Paul Poloczek died aged just 37.
He had been competing at the NPC Worldwide Championship, and the cause of death is unclear.
Viral bodybuilding star John Meadows died at the age of 49 in August 2021.
The cause of death was a blood clot which came 18 months after he suffered a heart attack.
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Iconic US bodybuilder Andy Haman died in March of that year at the age of 54.
Nicknamed Mr Incredible, his cause of death was given as a pulmonary embolism - or a blocked blood vessel in the lungs.