Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan announced that he will not participate in the Mr. Olympia 2026 competition.
Hadi Choopan Withdraws from Mr. Olympia 2026
The 2022 Mr. Olympia champion shared this information on Instagram. He stated that he attempted to visit Dubai to obtain a US visa, as had happened in previous years. However, he was denied entry into the UAE, and his ten-year UAE visa was canceled.
Choopan cited the current political climate and travel restrictions as the main reasons for his decision. Furthermore, he explained that the stress and uncertainty related to his travels and the US visa situation would prevent him from preparing for the Olympia at the required level.
Consequently, Hadi Choopan decided to withdraw from Mr. Olympia 2026. This will be his first absence from Mr. Olympia since his debut in 2019, ending an impressive streak of seven consecutive appearances on the sport's main stage.