California Sues Andro Makers

Training Bodybuilding
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Thought you guys might be interested in this. I wonder is Biotest was targeted?

Utah’s Weider Among 3 Dozen Firms Named in California Suit
Saturday, August 18, 2001

BY ROBERT SALLADAY
SCRIPPS-McCLATCHY

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed a lawsuit this week against Salt Lake City-based Weider Nutrition International Inc. and about three dozen makers of a muscle-building supplement that soared in popularity after slugger Mark McGwire admitted using it a few years ago. Lockyer contends so-called "andro" supplements are akin to anabolic steroids and should be covered under the state's Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The voter-approved measure requires, among other things, warnings about the stunted growth, liver damage, acne, personality changes and fertility problems associated with steroids. "Without such warnings," Lockyer said, "consumers are left with the mistaken impression that they are safe since these supplements can be bought in health food stores."

The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, requests $2,500 a-day fines against 35 companies for each "violation," which could amount to millions of dollars in penalties for selling the products without warnings. Lockyer also wants consumer alerts posted on the products or in stores where they are sold. The lawsuit targets only makers of androstenedione supplements, one of three popular sports-enhancing products that usually come in powder form. Ephedra and creatine supplements are considered stimulants but have not been shown to increase testosterone levels to possibly dangerous levels. "Andro is clearly the very most serious of these substances," said Iris D. Shaffer, executive director of the Healthy Competition Foundation, funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "It has the most serious health risk because it converts to testosterone in your body. It's akin to steroids, whereas these others are a little different."

The lawsuit names major andro-supplement suppliers and manufacturers throughout the United States, including Weider, Met-RX Nutrition and Concord-based Sportpharma USA and Champion Nutrition.
Champion Nutrition had been the supplier of McGwire, the St. Louis Cardinals’ record-breaking home run champ. McGwire’s admitted use of andro products reportedly stopped after an intense public discussion about the products and their increased use by adolescents.
Only a few studies have examined the health effects of andro supplements.
A Harvard study last year found that andro increased testosterone levels 34 percent and estrogen hormone levels 128 percent in about two dozen healthy men who were given differing levels of andro for a single week.
Increased hormone and testosterone levels can lead to a variety of changes, including enlarged breasts in men, facial hair on women, premature baldness, and an increased risk of heart disease.
Kim Smith, legislative director of the National Nutritional Foods Association, which represents supplement makers and health food stores, said many of the products already contain a warning label designed to “err on the side of caution.” Because of a change in federal law, andro supplements are treated as a food product, not a drug, by the Food and Drug Administration

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Thanks for passing that along. BTW, Biotest doesn’t make an androstenedione product.

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To me, this action taken by Lockyer screams of “please notice me, I have higher political ambitions”. The fact that andro FAILS the defintition of an anabolic steroid put forth by the FDA and the DEA and that NO study has shown any benefit to androstenedione supplementation. None show a positive effect on muscle size and studies have shown that it has NO effect on muscle protein synthesis, California should lose this case. It is sad because in the long run, we the consumer will end up bearing the cost of legal fees of the supplement companies.

I hope that the companies band together, hire Jonathon Emord and associates along with Rick Collins and get this thrown out in early court rounds and then countersue for libel and image insult. I'd be glad to help!

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Chris… You are welcome. I just assumed that all OTC steroidals would be targeted, but maybe Lockyer is too stupid to realize that there is anything beyond androstenedione. Doug… I hope they don’t use your criteria of “positive effect on muscle size” and “muscle protein synthesis”. The reason is that Androsol/Nandrosol really do work and I don’t want us all to lose legal access to them. I guess only the products that don’t work will be allowed on the shelves:) BTW-- Chris-- If you don’t to want to discuss it, I understand, but what are Biotest’s plans for Nandrosol? I haven’t seen it in the Biotest store for a while.

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You’re right, they probably don’t know the difference between the “andros”. The really sad thing is that if these idiots succeed in banning effective products, many people will just turn to steroids. Simple fact- quality supplements keep many people off of gear.

As for Nandrosol (and Grow), check out the new issue that will be posted later today (issue #171) for info on those products.

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Fuck you Bill Lockyer, Pedophile is to good a word for you maggot.

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Whats wrong with California?


You can have a Doctor cut your privates off and give you estrogen and your celibrated and special, but do anything that might remotely enhance your testosterone and they put you in prison, and the voters support this!

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“Ephedra and creatine supplements are considered stimulants.” Since when has creatine ever been a stimulant? Tells you how intelligent the people in charge are, huh?

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If you can control yourself and convey rational thought without sounding like an insulting asshole I suggest you email your opinions to Lockyer at http://caag.state.ca.us/contact/general.htm

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when I stated no effect on muscle size or net muscle protein synthesis I am ONLY referring to published data on androstenedione, the supplement targeted by Lockyer.

I am not mentioning 4-AD or nor4-AD in the "sol" skin tonics solutions. The idea is to beat the AG at his game, not to open up new doors for exploration. Most likely this will get thrown out of court. The AG logic does not fit, i.e., some studies show androstenedione increase T and E, steroids can increase T and E, therefore androstenedione must be a steroid... by this definition, Socrates was a man therefore all men are Socrates, it doesn't work.

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other than possible estrogen related problems, i guess (my) attorney general thought that andro was methylated, otherwise where does the liver damage warning come from. Also, if Lockyer really really hates andro, he could reccomend legislation, making it a controlled substance in CA. I doubt he’d do that though. I don’t like lockyer very much, i think he’s one of those self-righteous drug warriors last time i checked.

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They said: “… supplements are considered
stimulants but have not been shown to increase
testosterone levels to possibly dangerous
levels” Oh no! not the “dangerous testosterone
levels!” Not that!

OK, so when do we start shooting the stupid people?

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Doug… I know that you have to address the specifics of this particular suit and beat the AG in court any way you can. I was really just pointing out that if, by some longshot, this suit is successful, the doorway would then be open wide for additional suits, or even regulatory action. The sharks would be circling… the other andro’s would have have to be next. When you think about it, Tribex-500 will raise T-levels more than the 34% mentioned in the article. Will it go too? It could get really bad. We would be lucky to still be able to get our Advanced Protein without a prescription. But, like you said, the suit probably won’t amount to much, at least this time.