On Feb. 24, 2022, bodybuilding fans received a shocker when the Arnold Sports Festival confirmed that Cedric McMillan withdrew from the 2022 Arnold Classic.
Why McMillan withdrew was, at the time of the announcement, unknown. However, McMillan took to Instagram on Feb. 28, 2022, and revealed that he withdrew from the Arnold Classic because of stomach issues.
View this post on Instagram
The last couple of years have not been kind to McMillan. He has dealt with various injuries and health issues and contracted COVID-19 in March 2020. McMillan withdrew from the 2020 Olympia and the 2021 Arnold Classic.
McMillan last competed at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro but had to withdraw from the contest after the prejudging round due to health reasons.
McMillan’s Stomach Issues
“Ever since I tried to compete at the Legion show in Nevada back in October. I’ve been having some issues with my stomach,” McMillan says in the video. “I can’t keep food down for some reason. I’m hiccuping all day long and for half the night and anytime I eat or even drink water. It comes back up. Nothing wants to stay down.”
McMillan has been to the doctor multiple times, and they suggested that he shouldn’t compete. The former US Army instructor is having trouble digesting water and food. He even tried a liquid diet, eating shakes and soups per the doctor’s suggestion.
Four weeks out from the show, McMillan was consuming mass gainer shakes just to hit his calories. Then, two weeks before the AC, he decided to contact ASF management and discuss withdrawing.
“I finally decided to contact the show and tell them I couldn’t compete,” McMillan says. “I’ve been battling back and forth with myself, not really knowing what to do next. I’m feeling [like] alright is it over? Does this mean I’m supposed to retire when I’m sick all the time?”
View this post on Instagram
The stomach ulcer medicines McMillan was prescribed are giving him hope. The respite from the hiccups makes him believe that ulcers could be the reason behind his stomach issues, and he might finally be on his way to full recovery. He’s also now able to eat a solid meal per day.
For those wondering, McMillan will still be attending the 2022 Arnold Classic for the meet and greet event.
Don’t Miss the Arnold Classic
The 34th edition of the second-most prestigious bodybuilding contest behind the Olympia will feature prejudging on Friday, March 4, and finals on Saturday, March 5. Both prejudging and finals will occur in the Battelle Grand Ballroom in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The contest is available via pay-per-view on Fanmio for $24.99. It can be purchased from any device and cast to a larger screen via Roku, Chromecast, and other major streaming devices.
The official roster at the time of this article’s publication for Men’s Open bodybuilding is the following:
2022 Arnold Classic Roster
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Maxx Charles (USA)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
- Regan Grimes (Canada)
- Steve Kuclo (USA)
- Fabio Giga Rezende (Brasil)
- Justin Rodriguez (USA)
- Brett Wilkin (USA)
Notably, the 2022 AC roster originally consisted of 14 contestants, but Cedric McMillan, Akim Williams, Nathan De Asha, Mohamed Shaaban, and Rafael Brandao have withdrawn.
2022 Arnold Classic Men’s Open Bodybuilding Schedule
- Prejudging — Friday, Mar 04: 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. * Columbus Convention Center, Battelle Grand
- Finals — Saturday, Mar 05: 7:00 p.m.-10:00 .p.m. Columbus Convention Center, Battelle Grand
* Times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Featured Image: @cedricmcmillan on Instagram