International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League Figure competitor Melissa Bumstead was arrested in Palm City, FL. According to the Martin County Sheriff Office, Bumstead was arrested and booked on Sept. 11, 2021; she was released the same day. Bumstead is accused of receiving six different steroids illegally through the mail in Martin County, located in southeast Florida (north of Fort Lauderdale).
Bumstead faces six counts* of possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription for the following six steroids:
- Testosterone Propionate — anabolic steroid
- Drostanolone Propionate — androgen and anabolic steroid
- Trenbolone Acetate — androgen and anabolic steroid
- Oxandrolone — anabolic steroid
- Mesterolone — androgen and anabolic steroid
- Stanozolol — androgen and anabolic steroid
*For clarity, these are allegations. Bumstead has not been formally convicted of a crime.
As reported by CBS12, on Sept. 1, 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a package in Memphis said to contain “vitamins, massage oil, and a T-shirt”. The package was mailed from Canada. A search of that package showed that it contained “multiple vials and packages of factory-sealed and labeled steroids and other medication.”
At the time this article was written, it is not clear where specifically in Canada the package was mailed from or who mailed it.
View this post on Instagram
The 30-year-old Bumstead’s arrest came following a “controlled delivery” of the package by the Homeland Security Investigations and Martin County Sheriff’s Office. She was served a warrant to search her home after it was confirmed that she opened the package.
[Related: How to Train and Diet for Natural Bodybuilding]
Melissa Bumstead
Bumstead is the older sister of two-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead. She is married to Open division bodybuilder Iain Valliere. At the time this article was written, Chris, Melissa, and Valliere have not made any public comments about the arrest.
Melissa Bumstead earned her IFBB pro card at the 2015 Canadian Bodybuilding Federation (CBBF) Canadia Championships. She has competed in 11 IFBB competitions since 2016 — her most recent was a 15th-place finish at the 2019 Arnold Sports Festival.
Bumstead’s Competitive Figure Career
Here is Bumstead’s contest history, according to NPC News Online:
- 2016 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow — Fifth Place
- 2016 IFBB Vancouver Pro — Fourth Place
- 2016 IFBB Dayana Cadeau Classic — Fourth Place
- 2017 IFBB Mr. Olympia — 16th Place
- 2018 IFBB Europa Orlando — Fourth Place
- 2018 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow — Second Place
- 2018 IFBB Vancouver Pro — Fourth Place
- 2018 IFBB Los Angeles Pro — Second Place
- 2018 IFBB Tampa Pro — First Place
- 2018 IFBB Mr. Olympia — 12th Place
- 2019 Arnold Sports Festival — 15th Place
Bumstead is not scheduled to compete at the 2021 Arnold Classic on Sept. 25, 2021, as it will only feature the Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Fitness International, and Bikini International divisions.
BarBend has requested a copy of the booking report from the Martin County Sheriff Office and will update this article as more details about Bumstead’s arrest become available.
Featured Image: @melissabum on Instagram
