Schwarzenegger signs school anti-steroid measure
Fri 7 Oct 2005 6:05 PM ET
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct 7 (Reuters) - A year after vetoing similar
legislation, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill on
Friday to bar schools from taking sponsorships from companies that make
performance-enhancing supplements.
The reversal follows revelations this summer that the former Mr. Olympia
had signed deals to earn millions of dollars while governor as executive
editor of two fitness magazines.
Under the deal that he has since ended, Schwarzenegger was to receive 1
percent of the magazines' advertising revenue, which came mostly from
fitness supplement makers.
"Then I signed another bill to protect our kids from the danger of
steroid use," Schwarzenegger said after approving separate legislation
to bar the sale of violent video games to minors. "So our administration
is a big believer, we are all big believers, in protecting our children."
In his veto message last year, Schwarzenegger, who has admitted to using
steroids during his bodybuilding days, faulted the legislation for
focusing on supplements. However he did approve last year a bill barring
sales of performance-enhancing supplements to minors.
The new bill imposes a series of measures to curtail steroid use by teen
athletes, including requiring training of high school coaches on the
dangers of steroids and dietary supplements and creating a list of
banned substances in school sports.
"I'm delighted that the governor has recognized the pivotal role he can
play in teaching teen athletes to avoid steroids and dangerous
performance-enhancing dietary supplements," said state Senator Jackie
Speier, who has clashed with Schwarzenegger on the issue in the past.
--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/