Natalia Abraham Coelho is once again at the center of controversy as allegations of PMMA use have resurfaced just weeks before the 2026 Olympia.
The allegations date back to the aftermath of the 2025 Olympia, when Coelho defeated former champion Sarah Villegas to capture the Women’s Physique Olympia title. Villegas subsequently raised questions publicly about Coelho’s physique and suggested that her rival had used PMMA or another site-enhancing substance.
Those allegations generated significant discussion throughout the bodybuilding community but ultimately appeared to die down without publicly available evidence proving the claims.
Now, approximately 4.5 weeks before the 2026 Olympia, the controversy has returned following comments from The Fitness Pope Ali Taktak during an interview with Huge285 on RXMuscle.
The Fitness Pope Makes New Claims About Natalia Coelho
During the interview, The Fitness Pope claimed that a doctor working inside a clinic in Brazil contacted Villegas unsolicited immediately following the 2025 Olympia.
According to his account, the doctor allegedly provided detailed information concerning multiple procedures involving Coelho.
“Immediately after the Olympia, a doctor from inside of that clinic in Brazil came to Sarah unsolicited.”
The Fitness Pope also claimed the individual provided specific dates of the alleged procedures as well as follow-up appointments.
“They came forward in their real identity right after the Olympia and told Sarah the dates of the procedures, the exact dates, down to the follow-ups.”
He also alleged that Villegas received a video showing Coelho inside the clinic in question.
It is important to note that the claims made during the interview have not been independently verified. Being present at a clinic would also not, by itself, establish that Coelho underwent a PMMA procedure. No publicly available medical documentation or other evidence has been presented establishing that Coelho used PMMA.
Still, The Fitness Pope made clear that he was willing to stand behind his account of what he says was communicated to Villegas.
“I’m responsible for my words. I’m saying it on this podcast. I’ll say it in a deposition, and I’ll say it in a courtroom.”
What Is PMMA?
PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate, is a synthetic material that can be used as a permanent injectable filler to add volume to tissue. In the United States, the FDA has approved a PMMA-containing dermal filler for limited cosmetic applications, but injectable fillers are not approved for body contouring or enhancement, including injection into spaces between muscles.
In bodybuilding, allegations of PMMA use are particularly controversial because injecting filler into or around a muscle could potentially alter its apparent size or shape without that development coming from muscle growth. Large-volume PMMA injections have also been associated with potentially serious complications.
Controversy Returns Ahead Of The Olympia
The timing adds another layer to the story.
Coelho is now preparing to defend her Women’s Physique Olympia championship, while the renewed discussion arrives only weeks before the biggest bodybuilding competition of the year.
The Beyond the Stage account, which shared the interview clip, also raised the question of whether resurfacing the allegations this close to the Olympia could potentially put the issue back into the minds of the judges.
Coelho has established herself as one of the premier competitors in Women’s Physique, and her rivalry with Villegas has helped define the division in recent years. That history made the original allegations particularly explosive after Coelho took the championship from Villegas in 2025.
The latest comments do not establish that Coelho used PMMA, and the underlying allegations remain unproven. What has changed is that The Fitness Pope is now publicly claiming that the original accusations were accompanied by information allegedly supplied by a doctor associated with a Brazilian clinic.
With the 2026 Olympia rapidly approaching, the controversy that appeared to fade away following last year’s competition has suddenly returned to the forefront of the Women’s Physique division.
Image embed via Instagram @ifbbpronataliacoelho
