Legislators seek to ban sales of diet supplements/ Anti-doping

WASHINGTON - Congressional leaders, with Olympic officials and former athletes on hand, Wednesday introduced legislation to ban over- the-counter sales of diet supplements that act like steroids once in the body - such as the one made famous by baseball's Mark McGwire.

Androstenedione, which McGwire admitted using during his historic home-run chase in 1998, is a steroid precursor. The substance is not banned by Major League Baseball and McGwire said it helped him recover more quickly from weight training.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which handles drug testing in Olympics sports in the United States, joined the USOC in seeking to prohibit the over-the-counter sale of such substances under the Controlled Substances Act.

Such legislation is important, they said, to ensure fairness and competition in athletics, the health of athletes and especially the health of youngsters who increasingly are using such supplements.

Lloyd Ward, USOC chief executive, came to Capitol Hill to voice his support. The 2002 Winter Olympics were plagued by numerous drug violations.

"We think it's overdue," Ward said. "We're going to put all of our support behind the Congress and get it into law as soon as possible.

"This is about protecting the health of athletes and those who emulate them - particularly the youth of America."

Rep. Tom Osborne, the bill's co-sponsor, cited a study that said 1 million people from age 12 to 17 use performance-enhancing drugs or supplements. The Nebraska Republican is the former football coach at the University of Nebraska.

The other co-sponsor, Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., said he was spurred to action after his son, John, asked him about supplements. The younger Sweeney, a high school pitcher, asked whether using supplements to bring his fastball from 70 mph to 90 mph was a good idea.

"He talked about a conversation with some of his friends who were talking about using supplements," said Sweeney, whose district includes the Olympic training facility in Lake Placid, N.Y. "I said 'you might be able to get to the 90s on your own and getting to the 90s isn't the most important thing in your life. Being healthy is.'"

Dr. Bernard Griesemer, a pediatrician, said he has seen a rapid increase in the use of steroid precursors. He said precursors are cumulative - that the more a person uses them, the harsher the side effects become. Sexual maturation can also be affected.

"The adage we use with our parents is if you're using enough to get an effect, you're using enough to get a side effect," Griesemer said.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplements industry group, refused comment. CRN has said the industry would try to prevent anyone under 18 from buying steroid precursors.

Representatives at GNC, a national health supply store that sells precursors, declined comment.

Sweeney said he plans to take this bill through the Judiciary Committee when Congress' next session begins in January.

Meanwhile he'll try to drum up support among colleagues.

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