Fitness model Christian Boeving lost his gig as an endorser for a supplement company after saying in a documentary that he has used anabolic steroids since he was 16, the New York Times reports.
Boeving was among the athletes featured in the sensational documentary “Bigger, Faster, Stronger” that looks at America’s win-at-all-costs culture and the role played by performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids. Boeving was filmed two years ago, but the film was not shown for the first time until this winter at Sundance.
Mr. Boeving said he had nearly forgotten about the interview until he heard from the film’s representatives just before it was shown in January at the Sundance Film Festival. “They said, ‘Look, we’re just letting you know you mentioned the word steroids in it,’ ” Mr. Boeving said. “But I didn’t think I would get into that much trouble, because I thought it was pretty apparent that the top people in the industry use steroids to look like we do.”
A company whose products he endorsed, Iovate Health Sciences, apparently did not think so, and promptly severed Mr. Boeving’s contract. Iovate Health Sciences did not return calls for comment last week.
Mr. Boeving had represented over-the-counter dietary supplements in Iovate’s MuscleTech division, including Hydroxycut, which is meant to burn fat, and Nitro-Tech, which is meant to build muscle.
Boeving had worked for the company for nine years and said he made enough to live on. He does not regret making his admission.
“Even in the film, I said, ‘look, I do take the products I said I take — I do take Hydroxycut, I do take Nitro-Tech, but I take other things as well,’ ” he said. “They felt like people were going to walk away feeling like steroids, not MuscleTech products, made my physique what it is, and they have built this industry on telling people, ‘This is what I did to build my physique,’ ” Mr. Boeving said.
This is rank hypocrisy on Iovate’s part. I doubt that they perform regular and rigorous steroid testing of their models, and if they did they would have a small pool from which to choose from. Bodies like those shown on the cover of fitness magazines, while the product of a lot of hard work, are also built through the use of drugs, as Boeving admits; he is being punished for telling the truth.
The magazines and the supplement makers are selling the illusion that physiques that are big and ripped can be built simply by exercise and using their products (in the film there is a terrific segment showing “before and after” photos being shot the same day). Very few people have the genetics to achieve such bodies naturally, but that does not stop the spin and hypocrisy evident in the fitness industry. They don’t care if you use steroids, just don’t be honest about it. –Jim Buzinski
on Jun 10th, 2008 at 9:08 am
You know I’ve always had a crush on Christian since his days with Co-ed Training and it wasn’t just about his body. He’s always had a nice, genuine and nurturing charm about him that makes him a good trainer. It’s nice to know that the charm wasn’t all an act. It’s great that he’s owning this and not releasing a statement about how his comments are being taken out of context.
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 am
It’s such a shame that Christian uses steriods to achieve his fitness model physique. There’s quite a couple of guys down at the local gym who simply idolizes him!
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I SAY THANKYOU. You were honest, and in todays world that is VERY hard to come by. I have been traning for several years now and I can tell when someone is or is not on “enhancers”. It is obvious that MANY of these fitness models are on them. The fact that he said it and didn’t try to go back on his comments just means that he is a class act. If he wants to take steriods that is his business. At least he still has the balls to admit it when so many won’t. Props man!!!
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 8:44 am