The Issue & The Need Overview Background Our Position FAQs Frequently Asked Questions Which supplements should I be concerned about? While the current permissive regulatory scheme governing the introduction of supplements makes it difficult to accurately analyze the issue, one should be suspicious of supplements promising legal steroid-like results. Best estimates suggest that there are hundreds of supplement products currently available that contain one or more of approximately 20 to 25 designer steroids alone. While many mainstream supplements are made by responsible manufacturers, a growing number of supplement products contain dangerous and undisclosed ingredients, including steroids. The real issue is that unscrupulous companies are marketing supplements spiked with substances such as steroids and advertising them as healthy products. As a result of these products, a growing number of Americans are becoming regular users of dangerous drugs, while mistakenly believing that they are taking safe and legal products. For example, a recent Sports Illustrated article detailed the story of an extremely popular muscle-building "supplement" called "Monsterdrol" which is billed as a legal, steroid alternative. In reality, that product has the chemical composition of methasteron, a known anabolic steroid. How real is the contamination problem? The problem of dietary supplements that contain substances that are not disclosed on the product label has been documented in several published studies. For example, in a 2004 study funded by the International Olympic Committee, 18.8% of the 245 supplements purchased in the U.S. were found positive for steroids. In the 2007 HFL study , of the 54 supplements that were analyzed for stimulants, 6 were positive (11.1%); of the 52 supplements analyzed for steroids, 13 were positive (25%). What are the health consequences of consuming supplements containing designer steroids? Known consequences of steroid consumption include liver injury, stroke, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism. Why can't the FDA ensure these products are safe before being sold to Americans? There is no regulatory requirement that the companies marketing these "supplements" prove that they are effective or safe before bringing them to market. Instead, under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the burden is place on the FDA to prove products and ingredients are unsafe and harmful, and this, only after the products are in the marketplace. For example, following a lengthy investigation, the FDA took action in July 2009 against American Cellular Laboratories for marketing and distributing products as supplements that actually contained potentially harmful designer steroids. The FDA also issued a public warning to consumers regarding these and other dangerous products that while masquerading as healthy supplements, may actually contain dangerous designer steroids. The FDA warned consumers that it had received reports of serious adverse health events associated with such products, including "cases of serious liver injury, stroke, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism (artery blockage in the lung)." What's more, the federal legislative process required to add additional steroids and steroid precursors to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) remains too lengthy and burdensome to keep up with the unscrupulous companies that constantly bring new chemical formulations to market claiming to be the latest, most-effective steroid substitute. Who is at risk? Currently, mainstream American consumers are spending significant dollars to consume these products. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, in 2007 American consumers spent over $24 billion on supplements, and an estimated $2.8 billion of these consumer dollars were spent on products claiming to build muscles or enhance athletic performance. This has changed significantly over the past decade, as previously, the average user of a designer steroid was an elite level athlete looking to avoid detection. What's most alarming about the current trend is that unlike athletes who knowingly made a decision to compromise their health by taking such products, the average designer steroid consumer of today is likely taking the products under the misperception that they are improving their health. What is the solution? The solution to this problem is two-fold: A regulatory framework that ensures that all supplements sold over-the-counter, in retail stores and online, are safe and effective. The federal agencies regulating this industry have the tools to effectively protect consumers’ health. For details, see our specific proposals. Supplement Safety Now was founded by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, with support from Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. We are supported by a host of organizations deeply concerned about the health and safety of Americans of all ages and athletic abilities, including the American College of Sports Medicine, American Swimming Coaches Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, PGA Tour, The National Center for Drug Free Sport, US Lacrosse, US Tennis Association, USA Cycling, USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming, USA Track and Field and USA Triathlon. We invite you to join our efforts and take action now.