SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ended his $8-million contract with a muscle magazine publisher last week. But his deep emotional, political and business ties to bodybuilding -- and to the supplement industry that feeds it -- won't be so easily severed.
Since becoming governor, Schwarzenegger has remained closely involved with the bodybuilding world and with the supplement companies whose products promise such things as ripped muscles, "thermonuclear" energy and better sex.
According to documents and interviews with industry leaders, Schwarzenegger has continued to give the industry advice. He has participated in private meetings about government regulations. The governor also received personal income from the Arnold Classic bodybuilding contest, which serves as a showplace for supplements.
And since entering politics, he has accepted $242,000 in contributions to his gubernatorial campaign and other causes from individuals and companies connected to the bodybuilding and supplement industry.
Supplement makers say the governor is strongly in their corner.
"Arnold is first and foremost a good diplomat for the bodybuilding and sports supplement industry," said Lee Labrada, a former Mr. Universe and president of Labrada Nutrition, which sells such products as an "embryonic peptide matrix" and "Super Charge" energy drink.
After questions arose about potential conflicts of interest, the governor last week ended his relationship with American Media Operations Inc., publisher of Muscle & Fitness and Flex. He also said he would stop taking income from the bodybuilding and supplement exposition that carries his name.
Few people would be surprised that Schwarzenegger has contacts with the bodybuilding industry -- as a seven-time Mr. Olympia, he is perhaps the most famous bodybuilder in the world.
But now that he is governor, state conflict-of-interest rules apply to him. State law requires public officials to perform their duties "free from bias caused by their own financial interests or the financial interests of persons who have supported them." His contract with American Media required him to "further the business objectives" of the company.
Schwarzenegger's aides said the governor has no direct financial connection to the supplement industry, even though the industry's ads dominate the muscle magazines that paid him. They said the governor had no conflict of interest when he vetoed a bill in 2004 that would have regulated supplements -- the magazines paid Schwarzenegger, not the advertisers.
