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On Episode 287 of The Menace Podcast,<\/em> Dennis James was joined by Jose Raymond, and Milos Sarcev, who provided some of the background behind his headline-grabbing appointment<\/a> as the official coach of Hadi Choopan.<\/p>\n The man they call \u201cThe Mind\u201d explained that he\u2019d been careful to help protect Choopan, who was the 2022 Mr. Olympia, for some time, because of what he called \u201cmisconceptions and misinformation.\u201d Sarcev, who is not just a respected bodybuilding coach, but also a former Mr. Yugoslavia and Mr Universe in his own right, said that he\u2019d gone through extensive conversations with Choopan and his Iranian translator, and believes that the controversy surrounding \u201cThe Persian Wolf\u201d had been blown out of proportion by members of the muscle-building community. \u201cIt\u2019s all created and inflamed by somebody like King Kamali,\u201d said Sarcev. \u201cTalking so much negativity and then people are just jumping on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarcev further explained his reasoning for supporting Choopan as his official coach, on the road to the 2026 Mr. Olympia final in Las Vegas this September. \u201cHadi has always been for (the) people,\u201d offered \u201cThe Mind.\u201d \u201cRepresent(ing) the country (of Iran)\u201d He went on to say that Choopan had never worked for the Iranian regime, \u201cin any shape of form.\u201d But explained that as an international athlete, Choopan did receive a phone from the Iranian government, and on that phone was a pre-installed photo of the Ayatollah. Sarcev says that people saw Choopan with this picture and formed their own conclusions, leading to rumor and innuendo about his political leanings.<\/p>\n When Dennis James asked why Choopan would have a phone provided by the Iranian government, Sarcev noted that the regime liked to control of its population, but this is not the same thing as working with them. \u201cNow, people going to say he is with the regime,\u201d explained Sarcev of the fallout from the phone. \u201cHe\u2019s not.\u201d Sarcev commented that circumstantial evidence had created a misleading situation that led Choopan to \u201ccry his nights into the mornings,\u201d because the bodybuilder had felt that the people he loved too much were losing faith in him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the plan?\u201d asked The Menace of Choopan\u2019s new coach. Sarcev shared that the number one task would be to show Iran that The Persian Wolf would never betray them. \u201cInstead of stress, he needs support from the very people that he loves,\u201d mused The Mind. Secondly, Sarcev wants to build Choopan\u2019s confidence. \u201cWhen you think about it, he was second (at Mr Olympia) 2023, 24, 25, and arguably he could have won all those three shows. So, he\u2019s that close.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarcev also revealed that in terms of training, he wants Choopan to bring back the fuller legs that he presented during his winning effort at the 2024 Arnold, along with a tight back section. \u201cThat was the best,\u201d he explained. \u201cFrom back, to glutes, to hamstrings, that he didn\u2019t have this year at The Arnold.\u201d<\/p>\n To watch how the entire conversation played out, and catch up on the latest bodybuilding news, you can view this episode in full on the Muscle & Fitness<\/em> YouTube channel.<\/a><\/p>\nMilos Sarcev Breaks Silence on Hadi Choopan Controversy: \u2018People Got the Wrong Idea\u2019<\/h2>\n
Milos Sarcev Unveils the Exact Physique Changes Hadi Choopan Needs to Win Olympia<\/h2>\n