President Signs Steroid Control Act

President Signs Steroid Control Act

WASHINGTONPresident Bushsigned into law on Oct. 22 the Anabolic Steroid Control Act, SB 2195, makingdangerous performanceenhancing drugs illegal. The legislation adds 18 substancesto the list of banned anabolic steroids, including androstenedione (andro)and tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), although it provides an exception fordehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Before the bill was sent to the White House for approval, itwas passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, Oct. 8; the same versionof the bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Oct. 6.

The House had previously passed its own version of this bill,co-authored by Sens. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), but decidedto take up the Senate version to ensure passage in Congress. Biden and Hatchoriginally introduced the bill in March, and Biden held a hearing on the topicin July.

Under this bill, clever chemists will no longer be able tododge the law by disguising their chemicals to skirt the legal definition of asteroid,

Hatch said in a statement after the bill's passage. Ourbill gives the Drug Enforcement Agency the power to schedule nearly any steroidprecursor now or in the future--giving the law flexibility so we don't have toplay catch-up with every new andro look-alike that comes along.