Santa Catarina, Brazil

A 19-year-old bodybuilder from Brazil, known for his drastic body transformation from being obese to gaining ripped muscles, was discovered dead at his home due to an apparent heart attack. The incident sparked suspicion about the potential role of anabolic steroids as a cause of his death.

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Matheus Pavlak, who resides in Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been a renowned figure in the bodybuilding industry.

In five years, he transformed his body through regular competitions and earning accolades, coming fourth and sixth in regional contests and becoming the champion of the U23 contest in 2023. People called him “Mr. Blumenau” in his native place.

TMZ and other media outlets stated that Pavlak’s death was due to anabolic steroids, evident from his muscular physique at such a young age. His death sparked a public debate on social media platforms, arguing whether steroid involvement contributed to the heart attack or not.

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One of Pavlak’s companions shared a statement on social media, dismissing the allegations, saying, “How can human beings exist who are capable of offending the memory of a boy who is no longer here to defend himself!!”

Pavlak constantly spoke about his journey on social media, being an inspiration to many who dream of building a muscular physique. One of his posts said, “No matter how difficult or impossible your dream is if you really want it, you will get there. I DID.”

His former trainer, Lucas Chegatti, expressed his grief on social media, saying, “Today ends in a sad day with the loss of a great friend, a spectacular young man who leaves us far too soon, a tragedy that has taken us by surprise. He had a brilliant future ahead of him as a respected athlete. God has his plans, but it’s hard to understand; I don’t have the words to explain the weight I feel in my heart.”

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“I was Matheus’ first coach, and I’m very proud to have had the opportunity to care for him like a son. I promised him that one day he would beat me and said and done, the first time we competed against each other, he ended up winning,” Chegatti added.

Chegatti and Pavlak first met in 2022, and he has been his mentor and trainer since then.

The tragic death of Matheus Pavlak has become a big concern in the bodybuilding community. This comes as the number of high-profile bodybuilders' deaths is growing at an alarming rate.

Earlier in April, a Brazilian bodybuilder and fitness coach died at the age of 29 from complications he faced due to COVID-19. In May, another athlete, Majorcan, who fought cancer and survived, passed away at the age of 50.

Pavlak’s death has highlighted the complications and health issues bodybuilders face during their journey and the risks of using performance-enhancing substances.

The reason behind Pavlak’s death is yet to be identified, as the investigation is still ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies)