Congress looking into ephedra use

Date: 10-04-2003 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States

Congress wants to know more about the use of ephedra products by professional atheletes.

Members of the House Energy and Commerce committee said Wednesday they have written the heads of the major U.S. sports leagues, as well as several players' organizations, to request documents relating to the leagues' policies on the use of ephedra products by their participating athletes.

The committee has been investigating the possible dangers of the dietary supplement, which has been promoted as a weight-loss product and as a sports performance-enhancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed requiring a warning label advising users of potential heart problems and the risk of death.

One of the cases cited in the letters was the death of 23-year-old Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, whose reported use of an ephedra-containing supplement was a contributing factor in his death. Such incidents "raise questions about whether federal action should be taken to address safety concerns related to ephedra-containing supplements," the letters said.

The House members called on the professional sports leagues -- including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing -- to turn over documents on their policies and positions pertaining to the use of ephedra products by athletes participating in their leagues.