and he's intelligent to a point many people find it intimidating.
QFT. Those intimidated include those running the sport too. Some of them clearly resent having a bodybuilder - usual bluecollar and/or uneducated - being way more intelligent than them.
In many ways , despite having the best physique of all time in terms of mass, condition and aesthetics, Nasser was always too good for bodybuilding. I hate to say it as I do love the sport, but nasser was such a cut above that some powerful people in the industry clearly resented it.