Lee Priest Reinstated, Competing in Atlantic City

Lee Priest on the September 2008 cover of MuscleMag

In an 11-5 vote, Lee Priest has been reinstated to full status in the IFBB and will be competing at the Atlantic City Pro in September.

June 20, 2008

Lee Priest was reinstated to full status in the IFBB in a secret meeting of the organization.  The vote was 11-5 in favor of reinstatement, effective immediately.

“Yes, he’s back in the IFBB,” IFBB Professional League Chairman Jim Manion said. “He’s free to enter any contest, he’s free to guest pose. He has to sign his membership card but other than that formality, which I’m sure he will do, he’s officially back.”

Priest had been suspended by the IFBB since 2006, after choosing to compete in another organization, the now defunct Pro Division Inc. Priest had since reapplied for reinstatement. IFBB officials had originally planned to put Priest’s reinstatement up for a vote on Olympia Weekend, but recently decided to expedite that process in order to allow Priest a chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympia.  Priest will take that shot at a qualification by competing at the Atlantic City Pro, which will be held on September 12-13th.  

Quoted in Flex Online, Manion said  “I think the timing was right.  I think Lee has been penalized long enough. He’s made a lot of overtures obviously to try to get back in the IFBB. He was probably going to be allowed back in September, so we decided to let him get back involved with the IFBB sooner. I’m sure he can’t wait to jump back on stage and get back into the action.”

Sources:  FigureRX Magazine, Flex Online, Muscular Development