Andro Bill Passes House

Andro Bill Passes House

WASHINGTONU.S. Representatives voted 408-to-3 to pass the Anabolic Steroid Control Act on June 4, making androstenedione, tetrahydrogestrione (THG) and other anabolic steroid precursors controlled substances; dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was exempted from the definition. The bill also asks the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) to prepare a report for Congress on health risks associated with dietary supplements containing substances similar to andro and THG. The Act was introduced in early March, and was supported by federal regulators and many industry organizations.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where a similar bill is pending, and was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate version was introduced by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Actions on andro have been on the fast track this year. On March 10, a Senate committee hearing addressed steroid use in professional sports, including the use of andro by athletes such as Mark McGuire.

During the hearing, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) mentioned Congress was looking at legislative remedies for the steroid problem. And on March 11, HHS announced it sent letters to 23 companies notifying them that andro was never approved as a dietary supplement ingredient.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) previously announced their support of the regulatory action and legislative move to better control steroid precursors.