• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Generation Iron

Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network

  • Movies
  • Original Content
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Pre-Workout
      • Fat Burners
      • Testosterone Boosters
      • Creatine
      • Protein
      • BCAAs
      • Multivitamins
      • Omega-3
      • Joint Supplements
      • Super Greens
      • Meal Replacement
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Foam Rollers
      • Best Massage Guns
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
  • Equipment
    • Cardio
      • Treadmills
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Stair Climbers
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Best Apparel
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Weightlifting Shoes
    • Strength
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Complete Home Gyms
    • Training
      • Best Knee Sleeves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Gloves
  • More
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Experts
    • Advertise
    • Franchise With Us
    • Exercise Guides
    • Athlete Profiles
    • Podcasts
    • Power 30
    • Bodybuilding Awards
    • Supplement Awards
  • Shop
Originals All GI Exclusives

2023 Men’s 212 Olympia Champion Keone Pearson Responds To Natural Claims Controversy

by GI Team Published on Nov 3, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

When the Men’s 212 Olympia Champion Keone Pearson came onto the scene he was dubbed all natural. People didn’t believe it.

The 2023 Men’s 212 champion, Keone Pearson exploded onto the bodybuilding scene and has been a rising star in the Men’s 212 Division. But what was even more incredible were the all natural claims that started circulating shortly after he started gaining traction in early 2019. Many people thought it was unbelievable due to his size and shocking physique. It got to the point that PJ Braun took Keone Pearson to get a blood test to prove he was in fact all natural. This seemed to do little to dissuade the non believers. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Keone Pearson addresses the controversy with a year of hindsight behind him. Is it worth it for a bodybuilder to be known publicly as all natural?

Keone Pearson’s story is only one of many. There are a handful of bodybuilders with amazing physiques who have been publicly known as all natural at some point in time. Each and every one of them are met with disbelief. The biggest example of this is Mike O’Hearn who has claimed he is all natural for decades. There’s a perception among bodybuilding fans and spectators that certain levels of physiques are simply impossible to achieve without performance enhancing drugs. Physiques like Mike O’Hearn and Keone Pearson’s fall under that category.

Keone doesn’t claim to be natural anymore. He simply stays quiet and works hard to be the best bodybuilder he can be. The truth is that Keone never wanted to make a big spectacle about starting out all natural at all. Blackston Labs CEO, and Muscle Mogul PJ Braun was simply so shocked at the quality of Keone’s physique that he had to get undeniable proof that Keone was actually natural. The blood test results went viral – and the biggest irony was that it didn’t lead to more people believing it. Instead they buckled down in disbelief.

Which led us to the ultimate question we asked Keone Pearson – is it worth it to be publicly known as all natural in bodybuilding? It seems like the default reaction from fans is disbelief – and then the athlete has to fight uphill against that moving forward. Keone agrees and says that he doesn’t care about natural or not natural. He just cares about being a good athlete on his terms. He wants his physique to speak for him. It might seem impressive to be known for your amazing physique without the aid of PEDs – but ultimately the negative attention just isn’t worth it.

You can watch Keone Pearson address his thoughts on the entire natural controversy in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

About GI Team

The GI Team is here to provide top news and original content for the new generation. The generation of bodybuilders who are pushing the sport to bigger and better places. Join The Movement. Become a part of Generation Iron!

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Get the Latest

Stay informed with the latest news, product reviews, & expert advice.

Popular Reviews

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • Performance Lab SPORT BCAA

    The Best BCAA For Bodybuilding Health & Performance Goals

Trending Articles

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

  • The Ultimate Mike Mentzer Workout and Diet

  • Chris bumstead's 2024 workout and diet plan

    Chris Bumstead’s 2025 Complete Bodybuilding Workout & Diet Plan

Popular Now

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • best citrulline supplements

    The Best Citrulline Malate Supplements for Performance and Pump

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

Generation Iron

Generation Iron is the first and only digital network delivering health, fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports content. We deliver premium content with the biggest names in fitness and provide expert coverage, reviews on top brands, workout tips and trends in the worlds of fitness, health and strength sports.

Strongman Corporation
Vladar

Sections

  • Trending News
  • Original Movies
  • Original Content
  • Supplement Reviews
  • Equipment Reviews
  • Exercise Guides
  • Nutrition Guides
  • Athlete Profiles

More

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Experts
  • Advertise
  • Franchise With Us
  • Podcasts
  • Power 30
  • Shop

CONTACT

Generation Iron Brands LLC
134 West 29th Street Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
Email: [email protected]

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X / Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 · Generation Iron · Disclaimers · Privacy Policy · Accessibility