A Colombian bodybuilder known as “She-Hulk” has been found murdered in Spain prompting questions about the possible role of PEDs in the tragedy.
Zunilda Amy Hoyos Mendez, an international bodybuilding champion with over 75,000 Instagram followers, was discovered dead in a rental home in Fuengirola, a coastal town in Spain’s Málaga province. The 34-year-old IFBB Pro had earned recognition after placing second at the 2021 NPC Worldwide Latin American Championships and was weeks away from competing internationally in Portugal.
Spanish National Police entered the rental home on June 19 after concerned family members reported Amy missing. Inside, they found a gruesome scene: Amy had suffered multiple hammer blows. Her husband, a Florida-based bodybuilder and supplement store owner, was found dead in the bathroom from apparent self-inflicted stab wounds. A hammer was recovered at the scene.
Amy’s family had long been worried. Her niece, Ulleta, revealed in WhatsApp messages that Amy planned to leave her husband due to his “aggressive behavior.” The couple had previously separated because of abuse but reconciled, only for the mistreatment to continue. According to family, Amy never filed a police report—something tragically common in domestic abuse cases.
The couple had been in Spain for about a month while Gelling recovered from knee surgery. Alarm bells rang on June 15 when Amy abruptly stopped responding to calls and stopped going to her regular gym. On June 18, family members launched a frantic search via WhatsApp and social media. A friend eventually filed a missing person report at the Torremolinos Police Station, prompting the police search that led to the grim discovery.
Spanish authorities are investigating the case as a gender-motivated killing—potentially the third such homicide in Málaga province and fifth in Andalusia this year. But some experts and commentators are also speculating whether the use of performance-enhancing drugs may have contributed to the brutality of the crime.
According to the Law & Crime Network, elite-level bodybuilding competitions often do not require drug testing. Trial attorney Bob Hill noted,
“The ster*ids and that medication can cause aggressive behavior. And you know, they were likely probably engaged in their use, but I think whether they were or not is going to be a relevant factor.”
Medical research supports the potential for anabolic steroids to cause what is commonly referred to as “roid rage”—mood swings, aggression, and impaired judgment. Toxicology tests are expected to determine whether PEDs were involved in this case.
Hill further clarified that even if PEDs were found in Gelling’s system, their presence would not serve as a legal defense.
“Because you take it on your own, nobody makes you take it, the effects of that are implied that they’re agreed to or consented by the individual taking that “
The tragedy of Amy’s death is compounded by her athletic promise. Her coach, Brandon Ray, expressed his heartbreak:
“We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world. I told you that you could possibly be top 10 in the world by the end of this year and I meant it.”
Fellow bodybuilder Ben Nazar echoed the sentiment:
“The most powerful woman I knew in the world of bodybuilding, yet with the gentlest heart.”
Autopsy results are pending and may shed light on the final moments leading up to the tragedy.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
