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Below is a copy of the Press Release that was circulated last week by wire and this week by e-mail. We are hopeful that this press release will lead to some articles and press for the USFA, as well as to clarify the realistic implications of the new law, for consumers.
Michael J. DiMaggio
USFA Executive Director
www.usfa.biz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Source: United Supplement Freedom Association, Inc.
Steroid Precursor Sales Soar as Ban Approaches
NEW YORK -- January 4, 2005 -- /Xpress Press/ -- Fitness consumers are
stocking up on bodybuilding supplements in the weeks before a new federal
law bans their possession and sale. The dietary supplements, referred to as
steroid precursors or "prohormones," can be converted by enzymes in the body
into testosterone-like substances that consumers report help to build bigger
muscles. As the end of legal availability looms close, they're stockpiling
bottles for the future. "Our sales are way up for November and December,"
said Jim Vercelotti of ATF Fitness in Pennsylvania. "Customers love these
products and say that they're furious about the new law."
Signed on October 22, 2004, the new law takes effect on January 20, 2005.
The inclusion of a 90-day delayed effective date, so that businesses in an
orderly manner could sell off existing inventory, was due to the efforts of
the United Supplement Freedom Association (USFA), (**broken link removed** ), a
non-profit organization of supplement companies and consumers. According to
USFA executive director Michael DiMaggio, "Most prohormone consumers are not
competitive athletes. They are mature adults seeking to look better.
Overnight, these Americans will be changed into federal drug criminals."
Anyone caught in possession of the products will face arrest and prosecution
under the new law. "There were better ways to protect our children than to
confront adult consumers with imprisonment."
Will we see an epidemic of body-conscious adults arrested and dragged into
court for violating the law? "No one can say for sure," says lawyer Rick
Collins, a nationally recognized legal authority on bodybuilding drugs and
supplements. "The war on steroids is certainly heating up. But since
prohormones aren't classified as steroids under most state laws, only
federal courts will have jurisdiction. Until state legislatures begin to
schedule them, state and local authorities will probably have little
interest."
This leaves enforcement in the hands of federal authorities who may
themselves have little incentive to aggressively prosecute. "Based on
current federal sentencing guidelines, a first offender caught possessing
even ten thousand prohormone tablets would likely receive a sentence of
straight probation without any jail," says Collins. "To target prohormone
users as a drug enforcement priority at this time would be a major
misallocation of our government resources."
Collins surmises that the sponsors of the new legislation believed it would
curtail steroid use in competitive athletics. "Their hopes are well-
intentioned," he says, "but if past experience serves, don't hold your
breath. The original 1990 steroid law was pitched as the solution to the
problem of steroids in sports. But the problem is bigger today than ever.
Criminalizing consumers who aren't competitive athletes for possessing
prohormone products misses the mark."
DiMaggio is not surprised at the consumer buying frenzy. "Adult consumers
will always want safe and effective dietary supplements," says DiMaggio.
"As long as Americans continue to care about being healthy and physically
fit, they will continue to demand supplements that may help them achieve
those goals."
Contact: Michael DiMaggio, 646-942-7225, [email protected]
Link to this story online:
**broken link removed**
Michael J. DiMaggio
USFA Executive Director
www.usfa.biz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Source: United Supplement Freedom Association, Inc.
Steroid Precursor Sales Soar as Ban Approaches
NEW YORK -- January 4, 2005 -- /Xpress Press/ -- Fitness consumers are
stocking up on bodybuilding supplements in the weeks before a new federal
law bans their possession and sale. The dietary supplements, referred to as
steroid precursors or "prohormones," can be converted by enzymes in the body
into testosterone-like substances that consumers report help to build bigger
muscles. As the end of legal availability looms close, they're stockpiling
bottles for the future. "Our sales are way up for November and December,"
said Jim Vercelotti of ATF Fitness in Pennsylvania. "Customers love these
products and say that they're furious about the new law."
Signed on October 22, 2004, the new law takes effect on January 20, 2005.
The inclusion of a 90-day delayed effective date, so that businesses in an
orderly manner could sell off existing inventory, was due to the efforts of
the United Supplement Freedom Association (USFA), (**broken link removed** ), a
non-profit organization of supplement companies and consumers. According to
USFA executive director Michael DiMaggio, "Most prohormone consumers are not
competitive athletes. They are mature adults seeking to look better.
Overnight, these Americans will be changed into federal drug criminals."
Anyone caught in possession of the products will face arrest and prosecution
under the new law. "There were better ways to protect our children than to
confront adult consumers with imprisonment."
Will we see an epidemic of body-conscious adults arrested and dragged into
court for violating the law? "No one can say for sure," says lawyer Rick
Collins, a nationally recognized legal authority on bodybuilding drugs and
supplements. "The war on steroids is certainly heating up. But since
prohormones aren't classified as steroids under most state laws, only
federal courts will have jurisdiction. Until state legislatures begin to
schedule them, state and local authorities will probably have little
interest."
This leaves enforcement in the hands of federal authorities who may
themselves have little incentive to aggressively prosecute. "Based on
current federal sentencing guidelines, a first offender caught possessing
even ten thousand prohormone tablets would likely receive a sentence of
straight probation without any jail," says Collins. "To target prohormone
users as a drug enforcement priority at this time would be a major
misallocation of our government resources."
Collins surmises that the sponsors of the new legislation believed it would
curtail steroid use in competitive athletics. "Their hopes are well-
intentioned," he says, "but if past experience serves, don't hold your
breath. The original 1990 steroid law was pitched as the solution to the
problem of steroids in sports. But the problem is bigger today than ever.
Criminalizing consumers who aren't competitive athletes for possessing
prohormone products misses the mark."
DiMaggio is not surprised at the consumer buying frenzy. "Adult consumers
will always want safe and effective dietary supplements," says DiMaggio.
"As long as Americans continue to care about being healthy and physically
fit, they will continue to demand supplements that may help them achieve
those goals."
Contact: Michael DiMaggio, 646-942-7225, [email protected]
Link to this story online:
**broken link removed**
