Pharmanex, a U.S. Olympic Games sponsor, tests products for banned substances

PROVO, Utah

Pharmanex, a subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, reported this week that 14 of its sports products passed muster in regard to containing no substances that were prohibited by governing national bodies in particular, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).

"Pharmanex has taken this unprecedented step as part of our commitment to the international sports community, to provide accurate information and assistance to athletes, trainers and officials on dietary supplements," reported Joe Chang, Ph.D., president of Pharmanex. "It is important for our industry to do whatever necessary to reassure athletes that they can take supplements without fear of jeopardizing their careers. I hope other supplement companies will follow our example, and commit to identifying standards for their products."

National Medical Services, an independent lab, tested products such as Creatine Blast, MuscleFix and OverDrive, for six classes of prohibited substances and their precursors, including anabolic steroids, diuretics, narcotics, stimulants, beta-blockers and peptide hormones.

However, director of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Terry Madden told The Salt Lake Tribune that the agency still does not recommend any athlete take supplements and put themselves at risk for possible repercussions. "I look forward to the day when I can tell athletes what supplements are clean, but until there is some type of better regulation, in order to protect athletes, we have to take the stance that athletes should not take any of these products," he said.

Pharmanex will also be putting these products, in addition to others, through a series of clinical tests coordinated with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, of which the company is a sponsor. The company is also an official sponsor of the 2002 and 2004 Olympic Games.