The Rich Piana Autopsy report has failed to establish the cause of death due to the lack of toxicology reports and the numerous potential contributing factors.
The 46-year-old’s death in August sparked rumors of drug use, including anabolic steroids and insulin.
The autopsy, ordered by the Florida District Six Medical Examiner’s Office, cited heart disease and Piana’s reported drug use as reasons why a cause of death couldn’t be determined, as any one of these factors might have played a role.
Also, the hospital failed to provide specimens for toxicology.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | August 2017 |
| Cause of Death | Likely linked to heart conditions |
| Heart Condition | Enlarged heart, significant heart disease, mild coronary atherosclerosis |
| Size of Heart | Two times the size of an average male’s heart |
| Weight of Heart | Approximately 670 grams |
| Physical Attributes | Weighed over 290 pounds, had 23.5-inch arms |
Rich Piana Autopsy report Discarded
The Medical Examiner’s Office stated that toxicology analysis could not be conducted because the admission specimens were discarded well before Piana’s death.
According to the Director of Investigations, William Pellan, hospitals typically discard specimens after three days, even though they are vital in cases like Piana’s.
The police and the Medical Examiner’s Office requested the specimens 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.
Drug Involvement is not ruled out
Piana’s death occurred after he collapsed while getting a haircut.
He was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma, where he spent two weeks before passing away.
The Rich Piana Autopsy report has failed to connect his death with drug use, though it has not ruled out drug involvement either.
William Pellan said, “due to the lack of available admission specimens, drug involvement could not be ruled out.”
But he insisted that the findings do not provide any indication that drugs were involved in Piana’s death. The autopsy rather emphasized 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” signs of heart disease suggest that heart disease could have played a role in Piana’s death, yet the toxicology analysis is essential to rule out drug-induced effects.
Piana: The Open Steroid User
Piana was an openly avowed anabolic steroid user. While he was not shy about discussing his steroid use, he denied using certain kinds of steroids, including insulin.
He admitted to doctors that he would often take 20-30 pills throughout the day. According to some reports, 20 bottles of steroids were found in Piana’s house by police after he passed away.
Piana’s Influence on the Bodybuilding world
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 legitimacy of bodybuilding practices.
He had an enormous 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 ruled the cause of death “unknown” due to a lack of a toxicology report and the numerous potential contributing factors.
While Piana was open about using anabolic steroids, the autopsy report fails to link his drug use and death.
However, it underlines the presence of heart disease and emphasizes the need for toxicology analysis to determine the cause of his demise.
Piana’s death is a reminder of the risks of steroid use, and it has once again highlighted the importance of transparency and awareness of bodybuilding practices.
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