Despite Complaints, IMG Stands Behind Met-Rx Sponsoring Show

This year's edition of "Superstars," to air on CBS May 4-5, is sponsored by sports nutrition company Met-Rx, which makes several products containing creatine and ephedrine, according to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. BCBS Healthy Competition Foundation's Iris Shaffer: "These products have serious potential health risks. And this event sends a message to young people that to be the best, you need to take a pill or powder." But IMG, which produces the show, "sees no such message." IMG Senior VP Robert Horowitz: "This is much ado about nothing. Met-Rx is a longstanding sponsor." However, SI writes that Met-Rx "has never been a Superstars title sponsor, which means visible ad time and logo placement." Also, "adding to the stickiness is an athlete list" that includes Olympians Jim Shea and Apolo Anton Ohno, as well as 49ers QB Jeff Garcia and Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez. The NFL and IOC "forbid the use of ephedrine; the NFL also bans creatine." Outgoing USOC Managing Dir of PR Mike Moran: "Our message to athletes is, 'Don't use supplements.' But I don't think appearing in this event implies endorsement." SI adds, "Blue Cross and Blue Shield thinks endorsement is implied, and it asked CBS to air public-service announcements to tell viewers of the supplements' risks." While CBS execs have reviewed the issue, they don't plan to air the PSAs during the event" (SI, 5/6 issue).