Dietary supplement industry and US anti-doping agency warn about illegal SARMs in sports nutrition

09 Nov 2017 --- The dietary supplement industry’s leading trade associations and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have joined in support of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent actions to protect consumers from body-building products containing Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) illegally marketed as dietary supplements.

“SARMs are dangerous and illegal, and they pose an immediate risk to consumers, jeopardize the careers of athletes, and have no place in any sports nutrition regimen,” comment the trade associations in a joint press release.

Together, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) and USADA share concerns about these products and have announced that they are supporting FDA’s efforts to crack down on companies unlawfully manufacturing products containing SARMs.

Unapproved drugs
The joint statement points out that as recognized in a recent FDA advisory, products containing these ingredients are not dietary supplements. Rather, they are unapproved drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.

Prohibited under the S1 Anabolic Agent category of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, SARMs have raised serious concerns for FDA, USADA and the legitimate dietary supplement industry due to the potential to be misused for athletic performance enhancement due to their anabolic properties and their ability to stimulate androgen receptors in muscle and bone.

SARMs are not approved for human use or consumption in the US. However, despite being prohibited, the joint press release points out that SARMs have been found in a number of adulterated products falsely labeled as dietary supplements. Some products list the ingredient as “Ostarine” – one ingredient in the class of SARMs – but the ingredients may also go by an alternative name, or be entirely undisclosed on the label.

In addition to alerting consumers, the five supplement industry trade associations have taken action to remind member companies of the responsibility to ensure that SARMs are not used in their products. USADA issues educational resources on an ongoing basis to warn athletes and sports organizations of the negative consequences resulting from using products that contain SARMs, including sanctions and suspension.

The industry groups point out that they and USADA are committed to amplifying consumer alerts/warnings issued by FDA and to disseminating tips consumers can use to make smart decisions when choosing sports nutrition products.

“FDA regulates the dietary supplement industry and this advisory puts companies on notice that those failing to comply with the law are subject to strict enforcement actions,” the joint press release notes. “Additionally, the advisory serves as a reminder to consumers – particularly amateur and elite athletes – to educate themselves on the dangers SARMs-tainted products pose.”

It is noted that there are legitimate sports nutrition dietary supplements that are safe, beneficial, and not prohibited by WADA, and it is important for all consumers, including athletes, to engage in due diligence when deciding which products to use and which companies to purchase products from.

Further, the press release points out that consumers should maintain an open dialogue with healthcare practitioners, and, as appropriate, trusted coaches and trainers, when incorporating products into their training programs or performance goals. Finally, it adds that consumers would be wise to manage expectations for their sports nutrition supplement products and should not purchase dietary supplements claiming to have drug-like effects.