An examination of Rich Piana’s remains has not been able to confirm the cause of his passing due to the absence of toxicology reports and the numerous potential contributing factors.
Speculation about drug use, such as anabolic steroids and insulin, surrounded the 46-year-old’s demise in August.
Considering heart disease and Piana’s reported drug use, the autopsy, requested by the Florida District Six Medical Examiner’s Office, could not ascertain a specific cause of death due to the possibility of any of these factors playing a role.
Moreover, the hospital did not provide samples for toxicology.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | August 2017 |
| Cause of Death | Probably related to heart conditions |
| Heart Condition | Enlarged heart, significant heart disease, mild coronary atherosclerosis |
| Size of Heart | Twice the size of the average male’s heart |
| Weight of Heart | Approximately 670 grams |
| Physical Attributes | Weighed over 290 pounds, had 23.5-inch arms |
Dismissal of Rich Piana Autopsy Report
The Medical Examiner’s Office stated that toxicology analysis was not possible as the admission samples were discarded well before Piana’s passing.
According to the Director of Investigations, William Pellan, hospitals usually discard samples after three days, despite their importance in cases like Piana’s.
The police and the Medical Examiner’s Office had requested the samples to be preserved, but it was too late. The absence of available admission specimens, Pellan said, made it impossible to rule out the use of drugs.
Possible Involvement of Drugs
Piana collapsed while getting a haircut, which led to his demise.
He was taken to the hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma, where he remained for two weeks before passing away.
The Rich Piana Autopsy report did not establish a direct link between his death and drug use, although drug involvement was not ruled out either.
William Pellan mentioned that, “due to the lack of available admission specimens, drug involvement could not be ruled out.”
He asserted that the findings do not indicate that drugs played a role in Piana’s demise. The autopsy instead highlighted an enlarged heart.
An Enlarged Heart
In addition to an enlarged heart, or cardiomegaly, Piana’s autopsy report revealed the presence of “coronary atherosclerosis,” or the hardening of the arteries.
These “significant” indications of heart disease suggest that heart disease could have contributed to Piana’s death, yet the toxicology analysis is crucial to exclude drug-induced effects.
Piana: The Public Steroid User
Piana openly admitted to using anabolic steroids. While he was open about his steroid use, he denied using certain types of steroids, including insulin.
He informed doctors that he would frequently consume 20-30 pills throughout the day. According to some reports, police found 20 bottles of steroids in Piana’s residence after his passing.
Piana’s Impact on the Bodybuilding Community
Piana, who had over one million followers on Instagram, was a highly influential figure in bodybuilding.
He was widely praised for his transparency about the use of steroids and his authenticity in bodybuilding practices.
He had a massive online following, where he chronicled his life as a bodybuilder with almost 28 million views on YouTube.
Conclusion
An autopsy report obtained by Men’s Health for bodybuilder Rich Piana has determined the cause of death as “unknown” due to the absence of a toxicology report and the numerous potential contributing factors.
While Piana was open about using anabolic steroids, the autopsy report does not directly attribute his drug use to his death.
However, it underscores the presence of heart disease and emphasizes the necessity of toxicology analysis to ascertain the cause of his demise.
Piana’s death serves as a reminder of the risks associated with steroid use, and it has once again emphasized the importance of transparency and awareness in bodybuilding practices.
It’s unfortunate to hear about Rich Piana’s passing, and it’s even more concerning that the cause of his death remains undetermined after the autopsy. As a reader, I would have hoped that the autopsy would have provided some clarity and closure to his family, friends, and fans. It leaves us all wondering what could have possibly led to his untimely demise. It’s a reminder of how fragile life can be, regardless of someone’s outward appearance or seemingly healthy lifestyle.