Dietary Supplements and the Olympics

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WASHINGTON, D.C., September 27, 2000—This week, it has been claimed that shot-putter C.J. Hunter has tested positive for nandrolone four times in recent months. He insists he did not knowingly use nandrolone, and a nutritionist who works with him has speculated that the substance may have been in the iron and calcium supplements he was taking. Apparently the assumption is either that nandrolone was put there by the manufacturer, but not labeled, or that someone deliberately put nandrolone tablets in with the dietary supplements, to sabotage the athlete.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), on behalf of more than 100 manufacturers and suppliers of dietary supplements in the United States, emphasizes that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), as well as the underlying Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, require that ingredients added to a dietary supplement be clearly labeled. Failure to list all ingredients on the label is a violation of the law and of regulations issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and CRN supports strong enforcement of all such requirements.

"It would be inappropriate and illegal for any manufacturer of any nutritional supplement to include any unlabeled ingredient, including nandrolone," said John Cordaro, President and CEO. "Indeed, such illegal actions would require prompt enforcement action on the part of the FDA. The availability of a wide variety of sports aids as dietary supplements is well recognized, but these also must be labeled with full ingredient information, to enable athletes to choose or to avoid specific supportive supplement ingredients," he added.

Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid, which has been banned by the International Olympic Committee since 1975. In 1999, more than 300 athletes worldwide tested positive for nandrolone, although many of them denied knowingly taking the substance or related compounds. In one case, the source of the nandrolone was traced to an athlete’s toothpaste, the assumption being that someone had deliberately sabotaged him by creating an exposure to this substance.

"Testing any suspect product is of course the best way to determine whether they contain nandrolone, and such testing should be done as soon as possible to head off unproductive speculation," said Dr. Annette Dickinson, CRN’s Vice President for Scientific and Regulatory Affairs.

A wide variety of dietary supplements are used by Americans, and by people of all nations, to boost nutritional intake and to provide other health benefits. Athletes are among those who rely on dietary supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle. In doing so, they count on manufacturers to supply beneficial products that provide fully informative labeling to permit appropriate consumer choices. While nutritional and botanical dietary supplements account for the vast majority of sales of dietary supplements, there is a vigorous demand for specialty products, including products that enhance athletic performance. Popular sports nutrition products include protein bars and powders, creatine, energizers, and muscle builders. Hormones and hormone precursors such as androstenedione are among the sports products available in the American market. Press reports indicate that nandrolone can also be purchased as a dietary supplement, especially on the Internet.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is a trade association founded in 1973 and represents more than 100 companies in the dietary supplement industry, including ingredient suppliers and manufacturers. CRN members adhere to a strong Code of Ethics, comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under good manufacturing practices.

Related letter to the editor of the Salt Lake City Tribune

September 29, 2000

Mr. Lex Hemphill
Editorial Page Editor
Salt Lake City Tribune
P.O. Box 867
Salt Lake City, UT 84110-1945

Dear Mr. Hemphill:

Senator Hatch has always been a champion for the citizens of Utah and for tens of millions of Americans who are interested in improving health and nutrition by using dietary supplements. Unfortunately, The Salt Lake City Tribune article "New Oly (sic) Drug Scandals Possibly Store-Bought" (September 26) relies more on speculation and misinformation than on science-based facts. It is incredulous to associate Senator Hatch with the nandrolone cases occurring at the Olympics in Sydney. Likewise, to report that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) allows limited listing and verification of ingredients is both false and contrary to DSHEA, which requires full ingredient disclosure.

In a rare display of bipartisanship among republicans and democrats in both houses, Senators Hatch and Tom Harkin of Iowa worked together to ensure consumers access to safe dietary supplements through DSHEA. It is inappropriate and illegal for a manufacturer of dietary supplements to permit any unlabeled ingredient in a product, including nandrolone. Such illegal actions would require and result in enforcement action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) emphasizes that DSHEA, as well as the underlying Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, require that ingredients added to a dietary supplement be clearly labeled. Failure to list all ingredients on the label is a violation of the law and regulations issued by the FDA. CRN supports immediate and vigorous enforcement of all such requirements.

Yes, our industry is well regulated, and DSHEA is working well. You just have to look at the facts. Please do so.

Sincerely,
John Cordaro
President and Chief Executive Office