|
March 17, 2003, NBA union sent ephedra warnings
to players
The NBA players’ union has sent a letter to players
warning of the dangers of ephedra following the death
of pitcher Steve Bechler. The MLB and NBA have been
under criticism for failing to ban the substance as
of yet despite bans by the NCAA, NFL, and International
Olympic Committee.
March 16, 2003, Baseball and ephedra ruling
made yet
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has said baseball officials
have not made a decision on asking a ban on ephedra
yet. Officials have received the toxicology report showing
the presence of ephedra in the recently deceased pitcher
Steve Bechler.
March 14, 2003, Ephedrine contributed to Steve
Bechler’s death
Toxicology results show that ephedrine was a contributor
to pitcher Steve Bechler’s death. An investigation
performed by Dr. Joshua Perper concluded that Bechler’s
heatstroke caused multiple organ failure that ephedrine
played a role in causing. Bechler had a “significant”
level of ephedrine in his systems that Perper stated,
“it’s my professional opinion that the toxicity
of ephedra played a significant role in the death of
Mr. Bechler.”
March 13, 2003, Ephedrine lawsuit settled
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S.
Attorney’s Office has settled with Fitness Technologies
after a civil suit was brought against the company after
DEA agents found the store was selling an ephedrine-based
substance without having federal approval. The investigation
has begun in March 2002 and the company has now agreed
to pay $15,000 in fines.
March 5, 2003, Stricter ephedrine regulations
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and
the FDA announced plans to increase regulations on dietary
supplements containing ephedrine. The new ephedrine
plan would include an up to date record of new evidence
on health risks associated with ephedrine, strong warning
labels on ephedrine products, and actions against ephedrine
containing products that have made unsubstantiated claims
regarding sports performance enhancement. High profile
ephedrine related deaths have allowed those against
the dangerous supplements to push regulators to finally
make changes.
The ephedrine changes are long overdue and not enough
according to many people that have been pushing the
FDA to better regulate or ban ephedrine for years. At
an ephedrine related press conference the FDA Commissioner
said the long-term effects of using ephedrine supplements
was still unknown. The FDA sent over two-dozen warning
letters to firms that market dietary supplements that
contain ephedrine.
March 8, 2003The FDA has finally responded to the dangers
of dietary supplements, including ephedra. The agency
has been highly criticized for the lack of response
to the dangerous and long overdue changes. Advocates
have been pushing for stricter regulations on dietary
supplements and the recent death of baseball player
Steve Bechler only created more questions as to why
the FDA has failed to make changes thus far. The FDA
has claimed that due to the 1994 Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act that did not allow them to
regulate natural remedies it must be proven that supplements
like ephedra must be shown to have deadly or dangerous
effects.
Although the FDA has failed to enforce new rules on
ephedra, the International Olympic Committee, NFL, and
the NCAA have already banned its use due to the deaths
and risk of injury linked to ephedra. The FDA announcement
to impose new rules on dietary supplements was made
on March 7, 2003 to force manufacturers to make clean
and accurately labeled products. This ephedra ruling
is moving in a positive direction, however many consumer
groups and activists still feel the change is in adequate.
Changes have been made in response to instances of contaminants
that have been found in supplements, but there have
been no changes issues as of yet to require manufacturers
show ephedra and other supplements are safe or effective.
For
more information on the dangers of ephedra contact us
to confer with an ephedra attorney.
top of page
February 28, 2003
Public Citizen issues a press release “concerning
FDA’s failure to ban ephedra.” The director
of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, Dr.
Sidney Wolfe, made the statement alleging Commissioner
Mark  McClellan
has violated a principal of the Hippocratic Oath he
swore to in the past with the theory “First, Do
No Harm” by failing to ban ephedra despite over
100 FDA received reports of ephedra deaths.
McClellan’s lack of ephedra ruling demonstrated
a lack of ethics that should not allow to be the FDA
Commissioner any longer according to Wolfe, and should
be forced out of office alongside the HHS Secretary
Tommy Thompson who has failed to utilize his authority
to enforce an ephedra ban. Public Citizen first petitioned
the FDA to ban ephedra-containing products in September
2001 and said they are now seriously considering a lawsuit
against the FDA/HHS in order to force an ephedra ban.
February 28, 2003
The federal government announced they would begin to
take steps on further restricting ephedra. The so-called
“steps” was not strong enough according
to many groups, including the American Medical Association
who recommended a ban be put into place.
The secretary of health and human services, Tommy Thompson
said he would call for new ephedra labeling warnings,
however these steps are considered inadequate by many,
including consumer advocacy group Public Citizen who
issues a statement regarding ephedra. Certain members
of Congress also voiced their disagreement with the
government’s failure to immediately ban ephedra,
including Senator Dick Durban who has investigated reports
linking ephedra to death, as well as strokes, heatstroke,
heart arrythmias, and psychotic episodes.
So far, the FDA has received over 1,400 reports of
ephedra adverse effects. Officials claim if concluding
ephedra fails to meet the imminent hazard standard they
might ask Congress to rewrite the Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act of 1994.
top of page
February
28, 2003
David Wells claims that up to 40% of all major league
baseball players use steroids and that amphetamines
are available for use in clubhouses. Wells wrote an
autobiography which will be released in a month and
included in the book is saying amphetamine use is so
common that if you “stand in the middle of your
clubhouse and walk 10 feet in any direction, chances
are you’ll find what you need” and that
the use of substances are continuing to rise amongst
ball players. Included in pills that Wells wrote were
stockpiled over the season was Ripped Fuel and other
ephedra containing supplements.
February 27, 2003
Baseball has announced ephedra is no longer allowed
in the minor leagues. The recent death of Steve Bechler
led up to the decision since ephedra has not yet been
able to be banned in the major league. Commissioner
Bud Selig made the ephedra decision on February 24,
2003.
February 24, 2003
Fitness experts renew warnings regarding dietary supplements
containing ephedra in response to the death of Steve
Bechler.
top of page
February 24, 2003
The baseball player’s union is waiting results
from toxicology tests from the death of Steve Bechler
prior to deciding if ephedra should be banned. Baseball
player union head Donald Fehr said that taking a stand
on banning ephedra would still be premature.
February 22, 2003
The MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has asked ephedra be
banned from the league in light of the recent death
of Steve Bechler.
February 21, 2003
Waxman sends additional letters to the Major League
Baseball Players Association, NHL, and NBA questioning
why ephedra has not yet been banned.
top of page
February 21, 2003
Baseball management and baseball players’ union
received a letter from two lawmakers, Rep. John E. Sweeney
(R-N.Y.) and Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), containing
aggressive words regarding their disagreement with the
continuation to risk deadly and serious effects to occur
to players due to the lack of ephedrine stance the league
has taken. Sweeney was quoted as saying the MLB has
done “too little, too late” and the MLB’s
allowance of ephedra to be used by players “in
my view, irresponsible and negligent”.
February 21, 2003
Selig issues a statement saying the league office and
team officials will meet with the players union regarding
the use of ephedrine and other potentially dangerous
dietary and nutritional supplements.
top of page
February 21, 2003
Senator Orrin Hatch issued a statement saying the federal
government has the power to ban ephedra and if they
are planning on taking such action immediate decisions
should be made. In the past Hatch has been a supporter
of the dietary supplement industry so his statement
was a change from previous ones made. Hatch has received
$137,000 in campaign contributions from supplement makers
according to reports from the Center for Responsive
Politics.
top of page
February 20, 2003
The FDA is investigating whether to ban ephedra in response
to the most recent death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher
Steve Bechler. Since the FDA is unable to regulate herbal
supplements, the agency must prove clear dangers is
present before it is able to ban sales. The FDA commissioner
feels that the dangers of ephedra would be immediately
evaluated so that the agency can take appropriate steps.
February 19, 2003
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif) has been one of the most
vocal critics of ephedrine products and wrote to MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig and demanded to know why the
MLB has still not prohibited the use of ephedra. The
NFL, International Olympic Committee, and the NCAA have
all banned ephedra use already and the death of Steve
Bechler may be the final incident to force the MLB to
make changes. Waxman requested Selig answer six questions
regarding the sport’s policy on drugs to be answered
by March 1, 2003.
top of page
|
