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| Stringer's Death A Factor
In Yesterday's Ban |
U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced Tuesday that the U.S. government will ban ephedra and "urged athletes and others to stop taking it immediately because of the serious health risks it poses," according to Marc Kaufman of the WASHINGTON POST. The supplement "has been linked to more than 100 deaths," including Orioles P Steve Bechler in February. This marks the first time the FDA has ever "ordered a dietary supplement pulled from the market" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/31).
THE ROLE OF SPORTS: In DC, Dave Sheinin writes it is "unclear to what extent the deaths of" Bechler, Vikings OT Korey Stringer, Northwestern DB Rashidi Wheeler and Florida State LB Devaughan Darling "hastened the federal government's ban on ephedra. The FDA had been pushing for restrictions on its use as far back as 1997, and ... Thompson made only general references to the dangers of athletes using the supplements. But undoubtedly the athletes' deaths, especially Bechler's, drew massive public attention to the issue of ephedra use. And nothing speeds the political process like massive public attention" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/31). Orioles VP/Baseball Operations Mike Flanagan said the ban "is one the Orioles organization has pushed for [since Bechler's death]" (AP, 12/31).
LEAGUES: USA TODAY's Gary Mihoces notes ephedra is already banned by the Olympics, NCAA, NFL and NBA. NASCAR has added ephedra to the list of substances "it looks for when it tests drivers and pit crews, [but] it had not been banned." The NHL has not banned ephedra, but NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said the federal ban "should allow us to take a much more aggressive stance." Mihoces notes ephedra was banned last season in minor league baseball, "but not the majors." MLB execs were unavailable for comment Tuesday, and while an MLBPA spokesperson noted that the union had "`encouraged' a federal review," it declined comment until it reviews the ban (USA TODAY, 12/31). In St. Paul, Jensen & Goessling write the federal ban "has significant ramifications for [MLB], where there has been ongoing rift between owners and players on banning substances. ... The union's clout made an elimination of ephedra in the majors unlikely" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/31).
MANUFACTURERS: In N.Y., Sheryl Gay Stolberg notes Metabolife Int'l, one of the largest ephedra manufacturers, suspended sales of ephedra products in November. The overall decline in ephedra manufacturing, as well as publicity from Bechler's death, "has resulted in a substantial drop in ephedra sales to" $510M this year from $1.28B in '02 (N.Y. TIMES, 12/31).
