The Edge Of Reason
Many of Arnold’s new products do not target the record-smashing athlete or the ultra- competitive jock. As sports science advances, his focus has shifted from muscle building and sports performance to gentler targets. For instance, Arnold’s primary venture, a company called Prototype Nutrition, stocks products that address focus and working memory. One example is D-serine, which aims to strengthen neural pathways in order to improve muscle memory. Arnold describes it as “a natural key regulator in the formation of memories, an amino acid naturally synthesised in brain cells which aid in long-term potentiation”.
Another product is R-spray, which contains resveratrol – an anti-ageing compound, the most well-known source of which is red wine (you may have read about it in Men’s Health once or twice). Again, Arnold appears to be playing with compounds already known to science – only this time his work appears legitimate. Numerous studies show that resveratrol increases metabolism, supports fat loss, boosts endurance and improves mental function. Here, at least, the science is (broadly) on Arnold’s side.
Things are blurrier regarding 7-Spray, “a non-hormonal approach to fat loss and cortisol control for that unruly midsection”. How one controls the effects or release of cortisol – a stress hormone – “[without] disrupting natural hormone production” is unclear. No matter – 7-Spray was out of stock at the time of going to press.
Most curious of all is Prototype Nutrition’s insistence that its products should not be used by professional athletes or military personnel. On the website, it states: “Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” Warnings aside, it’s clear that Arnold is attempting to redefine his brand with an emphasis on ‘lifestyle’, presumably designed to cash in on the wellness zeitgeist. But whether this indicates a change of heart – or at least a willingness to play by the rules – remains to be seen. This is, after all, a man who has spoken in countless interviews of the online back catalogues documenting drugs that have never been brought to market.
Prototype Nutrition’s sister company, E-pharm, suggests Arnold’s interests have not been entirely realigned. Products include Testforce2, “a natural testosterone elevator”, and Pumpspray, designed to “promote more ripped, fuller
Bad Breaks continued...
2002 – With regulators clamping down on norboletone, Arnold brings his most famous designer steroid, The Clear, to market. The steroid will help Marion Jones win three Olympic golds and bring Major League Baseball star Jason Giambi to a career peak
2003 – The US Anti- Doping Agency receives an anonymous tip when a syringe containing an ‘undetectable’ steroid is leaked. Balco’s offices are later raided by a narcotics taskforce, and a grand jury investigation begins. Highprofile athletes are subpoenaed to testify
2004 – Barry Bonds and Giambi reveal widespread use of Arnold’s products in Major League Baseball
2005 – Conte pleads guilty to steroid distribution and money laundering. Arnold is given a three-month prison sentence
2007-2017 – Accusations concerning Balco and Arnold’s drugs continue to clog federal courts. A bitter trial sees Bonds convicted of obstruction of justice, only for this conviction to be overturned. New perjury cases surface with athletes ordered to testify and vascular looking muscles”. Like Prototype Nutrition, E-pharm carries the same Fda-acknowledging disclaimer. This isn’t to say that these products don’t work, of course; simply that they are yet to be officially approved. And while the product descriptors are at pains to point out that they are “non-hormonal”, the suspicion is that Arnold is continuing to push boundaries, regardless of backing from sanctioned scientific research.