Recently, well-known bodybuilder and associate professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Liu Yiyang, passed away suddenly at the age of 38.
On August 6th, a netizen revealed on a social media platform that bodybuilder Liu Yiyang had passed away. Liu Yiyang was formerly an associate professor at Sun Yat-sen University. On August 7th, according to reports from several media outlets in mainland China, a teacher from the Physical Education Department of Sun Yat-sen University confirmed that Liu Yiyang had passed away.
A longtime friend of Liu Yiyang mentioned that he learned about Liu Yiyang’s death from relatives, and that the family is finding it difficult to accept. People in the fitness community also felt that his passing was too sudden.
An insider from the bodybuilding community expressed, upon hearing the news, “It’s too sudden, we were all quite surprised.”
On August 8th, a source from the bodybuilding circle who had worked with Liu Yiyang informed Red Star News that Liu Yiyang had recently passed away due to a myocardial infarction, and his body had already been cremated.
Records show that Liu Yiyang was born in 1987 and was a well-known bodybuilder and coach with a Ph.D. in Education from East China Normal University. He was referred to as “Dr. Liu” within the community. From April 2018 to the present, he served as an associate professor at the Physical Education Department of Sun Yat-sen University.
Liu Yiyang’s sudden death has sparked speculation online.
One source mentioned, “Just a few days ago, I was watching videos of his training live, his muscles had basically disappeared. Normally, he should have stopped taking medication, but how did he suddenly pass away, it’s just too terrifying.”
Another source replied, stating that he was preparing for a competition, he should still be training intensely while also working, leading to excessive fatigue. An insider also revealed that during his peak period, Liu Yiyang used 30IU of growth hormone daily, exceeding the dosage of Olympic athletes.
According to a post from the Weibo influencer “Xiaoheiyexing,” Liu Yiyang was preparing for a bodybuilding competition in Hong Kong in September before his death. In the months leading up to his passing, he frequently livestreamed on Douyin, focusing on his training process, and mentioned during the livestreams, “I will be competing in Hong Kong in September.”
“Xiaoheiyexing” speculated that the intense training, lack of sleep, potential side effects of medication combined could have resulted in cardiovascular strain, ultimately leading to a heart attack.
In 2023, the sudden death of bodybuilder Jiang Zhuang at the age of 23 also drew attention within the bodybuilding community. Chat logs indicated that the cause of Jiang Zhuang’s death was believed to be due to intravenous injections, with some speculating he injected erythropoietin (EPO), while others mentioned ephedrine injections.
At the time, concerning the issue of drug use in the bodybuilding community, most industry professionals admitted that it was almost a norm. Drugs can help muscles grow and maintain a visually appealing physique, but they also come with serious side effects. Whether it’s EPO or ephedrine, both are prescription drugs with specific indications. Improper use or overuse could pose significant risks. Particularly, excessive use of ephedrine could lead to sudden death.