Schwarzenegger Vetoes Calif.

Schwarzenegger Vetoes Calif. Sports Supplement Bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif.Gov. ArnoldSchwarzenegger has vetoed a Calif. state bill (S.B. 37) that sought to create alist of banned performance-enhancing sports products, including dietarysupplements, in high school. Following the move, Schwarzenegger was sharplycriticized for his support of the dietary supplement industry, especially his $8million contract with two muscle magazines, Flex and Muscle and Fitness.

Industry groups, such as the American Herbal ProductsAssociation (AHPA), National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) and theCouncil for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), opposed the legislation and urgedmembers, especially California companies, to write the governor in opposition ofthe bill in its current form. While not opposed to the basis of the legislation,the groups were alarmed at the late addition of the words dietary supplementsto the potential banned list and requested the term be removed. This correctionmade once before but was re-inserted after passing the state Senate. Theassociations further noted that the governor previously vetoed a similar bill,because it, too, targeted dietary supplements instead of steroids.

In vetoing the bill, Schwarzenegger said, Most dietarysupplements are safe. He added that supplements are regulated by the Food andDrug Administration (FDA) and [regulatory] activity is best left with theFDA. In response to criticism of his industry ties, which included $242,000in gubernatorial campaign contributions from numerous bodybuilding and sportssupplement companies, he defended his support of the industry but terminatedfuture payments from his magazine contracts.