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Up until the popular unrest in Iran, Hadi seemed to have the world in his hand. His fans have always been fanatical when it comes to him. If he takes a placing they don\u2019t like, they make themselves heard. Choopan also had the full support of Hany Rambod and Evogen. But a lot has changed. Hadi made some mistakes, but he was in quite a predicament.<\/p>\n
Listen, I understand that a lot of people, particularly in the United States and Western Europe, wanted him to voice his repudiation for the system in Iran.\u00a0 They wanted him to use his fame to help the cause. Because Iran is one of those countries where bodybuilding is a national sport. When Hadi wins the Olympia or Hadi wins the Arnold Classic he\u2019s not just winning it for Hadi. He\u2019s also not just winning it for his sponsor or his coach. He\u2019s winning it for his country.<\/p>\n
Iran is one of the most isolated countries in the world and as a result of that they don\u2019t have a lot of champions that compete and choose to live in their country. If anything they would emigrate to the United States or Western Europe but they wouldn\u2019t want to live there. Hadi is the exception. Hadi has found a way to be able to compete in a physique-based sport while living in a theocracy that probably would otherwise look down upon such a sport which aims to create the closest thing to perfection. In fact, even in some Christian circles bodybuilding is considered a vain sport and it\u2019s frowned upon. Nonetheless, Hadi has been able to find a comfortable middle ground. Not only a middle ground, but to put himself in a situation where the state supports his work on the competitive physique-based stage. The problem is that it\u2019s state that a lot of Iranian detractors want to be replaced with a more democratic, more freedom-loving type of government.<\/p>\n
There are a lot of Iranians here in the United States and there are even some that are professional bodybuilders that wanted to see Choopan become the posterboy for the democracy movement. But it\u2019s not just about the democracy movement, either. There are people that want to restore the monarchy. There is an exiled shah of Iran who\u2019s very active as well. Believe it or not \u2013 he is very vocal. There are also opposition leaders that live in exile and leaders within Iran who would like to have an opportunity to run things. But Hadi has remained somewhat out of the political loop while at the same time hanging photos of the ruling elites in his home and gym. I only say this because the fans have pointed this out. So it isn\u2019t even that he\u2019s neutral or that he wants to stay out, but he\u2019s been accused of supporting the very state that so many Iranians want gone.<\/p>\n
Historically, Iran changed from being a western friendly nation up until 1979 into becoming hostile to Western Europe and the United States. As a result it has always been somewhat difficult for Hadi to get visas and travel documents to be able to compete in the United States and Europe. We have always had the privilege of seeing him compete, but every year it\u2019s a big question as to whether or not he will be able to make the voyage. Just last year the United States knocked out several of Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities and we are on the verge of another war if the Iranians don\u2019t back off from their nuclear ambitions as we speak. In addition to the tense situation between the West and Iran, the protests continue and Hadi remains on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
What I think was very telling was the fact that many Iranian gym owners and supplement store owners who had portraits of Hadi on their walls started to set them on fire. There is a tremendous amount of anger towards Hadi not only internationally, but in Iran as well. As a result of that he finds himself outside of the United States without any clear path to getting in and also finds himself without a sponsor. At the end of the day Hany is one of the Iranians that is truly fighting for change from abroad. I\u2019m sure he would like to return one day and perhaps start a business there, maybe vote in an election, or maybe just be a tourist. But a lot of Iranians have left the country. They would never dream of returning because they are terrified of being politically persecuted. There are a great many Iranians that are second generation that have never even been to that country. Their families fled in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Going to Iran for a lot of Iranian-Americans would be a dream come true \u2013 given the right circumstances. They know the country through their customs, cuisine, and music, but they have never stepped foot on Iranian soil. It\u2019s really kind of mind boggling when you come to think of it. Then you have Iranians that have the means to leave but will not. They are determined to remain there and fight for change. Many of those Iranians want nothing to do with Hadi Choopan. One telltale sign of this is Choopan losing nearly one million followers on Instagram.<\/p>\n
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