WASHINGTON, D.C., July 25, 2012—In response to the introduction today of the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act (DASCA) by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement industry, issued the following statement.
Statement by Steve Mister, President & CEO, CRN:
“CRN strongly supports the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act (DASCA), a bill that will protect consumers by providing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with new enforcement tools to identify and quickly respond when new designer anabolic steroids are created and marketed as dietary supplements when they are in fact illegal drugs. This legislation will allow DEA to target substances whose chemical structures mimic other anabolic steroids and whose manufacturers and marketers promote their anabolic or muscle-building effects and give DEA new authority to remove them from the market as controlled substances.
CRN has consistently called on Congress and government agencies to enact and enforce laws that help eliminate illegal products masquerading as dietary supplements and to prosecute the criminals who manufacture and sell them. For example, CRN was instrumental in helping pass the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, and has urged Congress to further tighten the controlled substance laws to prevent new anabolic steroids from being introduced. In December 2010, CRN, along with four additional dietary supplement trade associations, joined forces with FDA to raise awareness about the significant public health problems posed by adulterated products illegally marketed as dietary supplements and heighten enforcement efforts targeting those illegal products. Bodybuilding products unlawfully containing anabolic steroids are one of the categories receiving heightened review by FDA.
CRN is proud to work with Senator Hatch and Senator Whitehouse on this critical issue. Misbranded products that contain designer anabolic steroids present serious health risks to consumers, particularly young men who may be unaware of the dangers of anabolic steroid use. When marketers sell new unapproved steroids under the guise of supplements, it is not only dangerous for consumers, but disparages responsible dietary supplement companies producing and selling legitimate, high quality and beneficial supplements for sports nutrition and performance. We pledge to do what we can to help pass this important legislation.”