Four-time Mr. Maldives bodybuilding champion Mohamed Yameen has made a public appeal for support after doctors confirmed that he is suffering from kidney failure and recommended a transplant. Yameen, who first won the title of Mr. Maldives in 2017 and successfully defended his title in 2021, 2022, and 2023, revealed that his kidney issues came to light a month ago following blood tests. Doctors have since diagnosed him with end-stage kidney failure, urging him to seek a kidney transplant.

Faced with the enormous cost of the procedure, Yameen has turned to the public for assistance, expressing hope that with collective help, he can undergo the life-saving transplant. A celebrated figure in Maldivian bodybuilding, Yameen has also participated in international competitions, securing gold medals and raising the profile of the sport in the Maldives.

However, his condition has raised concerns about the health risks faced by bodybuilders. Rumors suggest that many bodybuilders in the Maldives use large quantities of protein supplements, steroids, unregulated substances, and NSAIDs, all of which are known to contribute to kidney and liver problems. Steroids are banned in the Maldives, but supplements remain largely unregulated, raising alarms about the potential health hazards linked to their widespread use in the bodybuilding community.

Yameen’s situation highlights the importance of awareness and regulation in the bodybuilding industry as the use of certain substances has been identified as a major factor in the rise of kidney and liver failures among athletes.