Over-the-Counter Supplements Remain a Fighter's Responsibility
by Leland Roling on Aug 18, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
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WEC fighter Cole Province tested positive for Methasterone following his August 9th bout against Fredson Paixao that ended up resulting in an upset victory for Province. Instead of hearing from a fighter whine about how he was unjustly accused of being a steroid abuser, Province admitted to being negligent in taking a supplement that he had not heard of or tested.
According to MMAWeekly.com, Province took an over-the-counter supplement that likely caused the positive result:
The supplement that both Province and his manager admit to him taking is Double Dragon Pharmaceuticals SOS 500. According to a product description on SupplementCentral.com, "SOS 500 is the anabolic supplement you're looking for! It's unique blend of muscle building ingredients makes for an incredible, legal pro-hormone. You'll notice gains in strength, mass, and power that you never knew were possible. SOS 500 gives you all the energy and endurance you need for a great workout and then some."......
"I would never do anything to cheat in any form of competition. I did not knowingly consume any type of steroid," said Province in the statement e-mailed to MMAWeekly.com. "However, it was my responsibility as a professional athlete to break down any substance that I chose to put in my body and in this case I didn't do that.
It's a breath of fresh air to hear a fighter flat out admit to his mistake. The interesting part about this story is that Province normally doesn't take supplements, but he took this particular substance because a friend and/or training partner told him that it would help him retain water after he had cut weight at weigh-ins. Unfortunately, the supplement caused the positive steroid test.
To support this statement, Methasterone (aka Superdrol) is actually still available in over-the-counter dietary supplements even though there is a warning by the FDA and the original manufacturer ceased production to avoid a lawsuit due to its health dangers and anabolic nature.
This is a huge shift in what we've seen from past fighters. Sean Sherk, who took ridiculous amounts of over-the-counter supplements, complained that it wasn't his job to find if these supplements contained steroid traces, or that he just wasn't informed by the commission about any of the statistics regarding OTC supplements. The hard facts are that over-the-counter dietary supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, and it is the fighter's responsibility to find out what is in those supplements. Cole Province took responsibility for his mistake, and we should at least commend him for his honesty.
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even though there is a warning by the FDA
is it common knowledge where to find FDA warnings about particular brands of supplements? I think the MLB a couple years ago started circulating a list of approved supplements from manufacturers they found reputable. Would it make sense for promotions or atheltic commissions to do the same?
i really think they need to do that.
The NFL also has a similar list, and it takes the “tainted supplement” excuse out of the playbook, because they say that taking things not on the list is against the rules.
The ACs really should band together and do something like this, or maybe it would be a useful thing for a fighters union or something like that to do. It’s a way to actually help the sport.
That said, it’s good to see someone admit responsibility for their mistake, and realize that just because it’s legal to buy, it’s against the rules of the AC.
There’s a fine line that government organizations have to be careful not to cross with lists like these, lest they be viewed as endorsements. Banning substances is reasonable, but creating a list of reputable or disreputable companies is an open invitation for bribery and litigation.
by George Lucas on Aug 18, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
AFAIK their prohibited list only specifies substances, it doesn’t name any companies or suppliers. If they do have a list like that, it seems like it would be a huge conflict of interests.
by George Lucas on Aug 18, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t see anything wrong with publishing a list that says “these drugs will not make you test positive, and don’t have any banned substances in them.”
In all honesty though, this is something that should be done by a fighters union or the gyms themselves if people are too worried about corruption with the commissions.
What happens when one company bribes an official to put their competitor company on the list?
What happens when a company on the list accuses the officials of taking a bribe?
I think regulatory bodies need to play it safe and avoid naming specific products and companies and stick to naming substances. The tricky part is getting the supplement makers to be honest about what substances they put in their products.
by George Lucas on Aug 19, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s not a list of endorsements. If the company is on the list, and clean, who cares how it got there. If it’s on the list and not clean, someone will take it and test positive, and then the commission will have egg on it’s face when tryin to figure out the punishment, and they will lose all credibility.
If the commission knows a supplement is clean, why shouldn’t they tell the fighters?
If the company is on the list, and clean, who cares how it got there.
Obviously it doesn’t matter much to athletes or regulators, but if it affects the bottom line of a company, they’re going to do everything they can to game the system.
by George Lucas on Aug 19, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
If they had a list of ones reported to cause positive test then it’s not a conflict of interest it’s a warning to athletes to be aware of potential problems. Doing an accepted product list would be hard (and could cause those problems) because many times the problems are as much dependent on the production batch as it is the specific name brand. One can test fine one day and have a different container test bad the next. Warning fighters to stay away from companies that have multiple reported problems with this wouldn’t be a conflict of interest.
As long as supplements are unregulated then they are going to be a crap shoot though. Would you even pick up a can of soda if you knew that it’s ingredients and production was unregulated? Heck lots of them even say that athletes should avoid them on the container, I don’t think asking fighters to actually read the container before they start putting stuff into their bodies is too much to ask.
Props to Province for taking responsibility.
Booo to Province for taking anything starting with “Double Dragon”, lol.
www.knees2thehead.com
Check it out!!
He must have thought it gave him epic flying spinning kicks
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Aug 18, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t he win by spinnig heel kick KO?
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Aug 18, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Spinning*
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Aug 18, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s common knowledge that some supp manufacturers spike their product from time to time. If your going to roll the dice then you should be prepared for the possibilities.
Common knowledge to whom?
I hit the gym 4 times a week and take a small array of supplements (fish oil, casein, whey) so i’d consider myself somewhat into the “scene”. I always thought the claims of some of those supplements to be selling points for mystery powders that didn’t do much of anything (like any BSN product). It surprises the hell out of me that there are actual anabolic ingredients in some of them
Really? The FDA usually releases studies every few years regarding the percentage of OTC supplements that will cause positive steroid results. The U.S. is steadily climbing in percentage, but in the Netherlands… it’s 25% of all OTC supplements. It’s pretty easy to find those studies, and the AC websites all have those documents available.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Aug 18, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, it may be easy to find those studies but I don’t think it’s common knowledge :)
That film Bigger Stronger Faster did a segment on supplements and they didn’t even touch on this particular subject. Would have been interesting if they did
You need to spend less time in the gym and more time on the internet, lol.
www.knees2thehead.com
Check it out!!
by BJJDenver on Aug 18, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ignorance is not a acceptable excuse, particularly when your whole career could hinge on what you put into your own body.
by who me on Aug 18, 2009 11:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Liar liar
Look cheaters are liars…plain and simple. Why would a supplement manufacture spike their product? Do they like the idea of inspectors or lawsuits? If you do steroids and are a professional athlete…like any criminal, you lie about it. If you get stopped by the cops and you smell of alcohol…I bet my mortgage payment you lie about the quantity of alcohol consumed and appear shocked at the breathalizer results.
Wags
The FDA doesn’t regulate the supplement market, and most people buying those products aren’t buying them for performance issues in a major sport. Most people are bodybuilders looking to get cut or guys wanting to look good. They don’t complain. It is rare that these companies are sued, but some are. It’s still much more profitable for them to continue selling those products.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Aug 18, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
They are unregulated products, the companies that make them not only are not liable for bad test they print on the label that they aren’t.
by who me on Aug 18, 2009 11:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If only the world were as simple as that.
by George Lucas on Aug 18, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
no sh*t, sherlock
the fact that there are competition-banned substances in OTC supplements unmasks your naiivity and/or inexperience with supplements. I am a personal trainer and have been around supplementation for quite a while, and what you guys don’t seem to realize is that there is ALWAYS a big disclaimer either on the bottle or the box or the ads that say something along the lines of “Contents of this supplement might not be permitted in competition. Consult your athletic board if you have any concerns.”
Fighters responsibility? Yea, but in this case it was a fighters ignorance for not even reading the damn bottle.
correction:
the fact that ANYONE DID NOT KNOW competition-banned substances in OTC supplements unmasks your naiivity and/or inexperience with supplements
by beersnbroads on Aug 18, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL
I don’t understand this comment at all. It is the fighter’s responsibility, and that plays exactly into what you pointed out… the fighter’s ignorance. He was responsible for finding out what’s in those supplements or reading the label… and he didn’t do that. Province admitted that. He knows that he was supposed to know. I’m not sure what you’re arguing. Or if this was a reply to some other comment.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Aug 18, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I own this supplement and this is the warning on the label
If you are a professional or amateur athlete subject to performance enhancing substance testing, do not use this product unless cleared by your sanctioning body as it may cause a false reactive result for a urine or blood drug test.
You should always read before you purchase. Expecially if you are a pro athlete.
Sean Sherk, who took ridiculous amounts of over-the-counter supplements, complained that it wasn’t his job to find if these supplements contained steroid traces, or that he just wasn’t informed by the commission about any of the statistics regarding OTC supplements.
It’s funny how Sherk spent a lot of money, time and energy on trying to prove that the testing was tainted but very little time on doing the research of the supplements.
by The Bronzeville Bully on Aug 18, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions
Honestly, the guy was taking so much shit that he probably never even thought about it. It was evident that he has a delusional view of supplements, and it really just stems from his ignorance. He’s learned his lesson now.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Aug 19, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s definitely on the fighter to make sure he knows what he’s taking, but I can sympathize.
As you pointed out, supplements are unregulated by the FDA so finding out information on what’s in them is tricky. That info could be faulty or just straight up not exist, in which case the fighter either rolls the dice in hopes that everything he’s taking is clean or avoids supplements altogether (possibly costing them a competitive edge), assuming that anything and everything could be tainted.
It’s kind of a lose-lose situation for fighters, and those who are unlucky end up getting lumped together with deliberate cheaters.
Another thing about them being unregulated is that many of them aren’t actually tested for positive effect either, there is a good chance that there is no actual competitive edge to be gained from the product. They might as well be buying snake oil from a sideshow salesman when it comes down to knowing what any effects good or bad will be from the product. Heck the ones tainted with the steroids are probably the ones that actually work for that very reason.
If a fighter can’t be bothered to even read the label on the product he is taking then he’s got it coming. If your entire career is on the line according to what you put into your body then you would think they would really take that seriously instead of taking random crap without actually reading the label or finding out if there is a problem with the product. It’s against the regulations to have anything on the banned substance list in your system, even an accidental exposure is still an infraction of the rules. Ignorance isn’t an acceptable excuse.
If a fighter can’t be bothered to even read the label on the product he is taking
Therein lies the rub, since it relies on unregulated supplement manufacturers to be completely honest and forthcoming regarding what their products contain.
by George Lucas on Aug 19, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s only part of the problem though.
I’m sure there have been a few instances of a supplement that’s supposed to be clean having 1 or 2 dirty batches, but some of these people are taking drugs that say, “this does everything steroid x does, and may cause you to test positive for steroid x, but it isn’t steroid x.” If you take that drug and test positive, I have no sympathy for you.
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