The “other” stimulant
Transcription
The “other” stimulant
REC Update The “other” stimulant: Methylhexaneamine (Geranium oil) Training is key for quality sample collections In the ever changing world of dietary supplements, Drug Free Sport’s Resource Exchange Center (REC) is seeing the resurgence of methylhexaneamine (Forthane), a stimulant which was first patented in 1944 by Eli Lilly as a nasal decongestant. Methylhexaneamine is included in a variety of nitric oxide (N.O.), pre-workout and weight loss supplements. Companies claim its advantages include: powerful energy stimulation, increased metabolic rate, ability to trigger fat release and reduce weight, ephedrine-like properties and those of general central nervous system stimulants. Long-time anti-doping pioneer Don Catlin, CEO of Anti-Doping Research, Inc., was one of the first to discover methylhexaneamine on the supplement market back in 2006. Catlin noted, “The chemical structure is similar to amphetamines and ephedrine.” He also stated, “In this class of drugs, everything depends on the dose. Take enough of it and your heart rate and blood pressure will go up and you can die.” What is Methylhexaneamine? Methylhexaneamine is a stimulant derived from geranium plant oil and is typically mixed with other substances in dietary supplements and “party pills,” including caffeine and/or synephrine. Stimulants can speed metabolism, heart rate and blood pressure. The increased activity in the body produces extra heat (especially in hot and humid conditions), causing the blood vessels in the skin constrict, preventing the body from cooling itself efficiently. By making the user feel more energetic and less fatigued, stimulants keep users exercising longer. This can set the stage for heat illness, heat stroke and sudden death. Large amounts of any stimulant can have side effects such as nausea, dizziness and nervousness. Other names (synonyms) of methylhexaneamine used by dietary supplement companies: The REC has discovered 1,3 Dimethylamylamine in a number of dietary supplements submitted for review by student-athletes. Jack3d, manufactured by USPLabs, is currently the most popular product that lists 1,3 Dimethylamylamine, but others exist. USPLabs markets Jack3d as a preworkout and nitric oxide-boosting supplement, powered by arginine and caffeine; downplaying the significance of 1,3 Dimethylamylamine. The company does, however, warn athletes that their product may contain a banned substance: “While this product contains compounds & constituents that are found in nature, tested athletes make up the extreme minority of the American public and have to follow strict rules on what they can and cannot use in competition. For example, compounds such as caffeine, creatine & 1,3 dimethylamylamine (also known as methylhexanamine, 2-amino-4-methylhexane & 1,3-dimethylpentylamine - a natural constituent of the geranium flower) may not be allowed by your specific sports organization.” It has been confirmed by the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory that 1,3 Dimethylamylamine will cause a positive drug test for stimulants, so please advise all athletes of this risk. Each of commonly used products listed below contain 1,3 Dimethylamylamine: USPLabs - OxyElite Pro Cellucor - M5 Extreme Nutrex - Hemo Rage Black Nutrex - Lipo 6 Black Hers BPI - 1M.R. (both capsule and powder) VPX - Anarchy Covalex Muscle Fortress – Muscle Spike MuscleMeds – Code Red 1,3, Dimethylamylamine (Most common) CTD Labs - Noxipro Dimethylpentylamine (common) And many more Geranamine (common) Geranium Oil (common) Geranium Extract (common) 2-Amino-4-methylhexane With the discovery of the resurgence of this ingredient being relatively new, submit questions regarding all supplements to the REC before using them. The REC does not recommend the use of any dietary supplement and encourages athletes to turn to food first for their dietary needs. Ben Mosier and Megan Plouzek have joined Drug Free Sport as sports drug-testing collectors. Mosier and Plouzek join “Team DFS,” a group of in-house certified sports drug-testing collectors that service clients across the country. COLLECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING EVOLVES OVER TIME by Sally Huggins, Insight Contributor Drug specimen collectors for the National Center for Drug Free Sport are a rare breed. They are highly educated, highly motivated and highly trained individuals spread throughout the country and abroad. The History News Briefs Independent contractor specimen collectors (“collectors”) for Drug Free Sport didn’t answer a want-ad. They are carefully selected and meticulously trained before they ever go out in the field to collect a specimen from an athlete. Drug Free Sport began drug testing in 1999 with one client – the NCAA. Since that time, the company’s sports drug testing increased in scope and diversity as several professional sports leagues and state high school associations became clients. The expansion brought many more samples to collect across the country, ultimately requiring Drug Free Sport to triple the number of collectors needed, said Cindy Thomas, Director for Collector Development (right). “We had to get creative,” Thomas said. “We changed our entire structure. With the NCAA, we had operated with a network of 50 independent contractors. With the addition of new clients and the expansion of the NCAA program, we now contract with a comprehensive network of 1215 collection companies with nearly 200 certified collectors.” While the expansion did not negatively impact the quality of Drug Free Sports’ specimen collection system or its collectors, it did require a change in the training procedure. Where previously two employees from Drug Free Sport traveled across the country, personally training collectors, a “train-the-trainer” program was implemented by Thomas to meet the training demand. Contractors identified their best collectors and Drug Free Sport trained 30 of them to be trainers. That involved instruction on how to mentor on the job, how to evaluate collectors and how to teach others how to do the job, Thomas said. “We also began looking at how to use technology,” she said. “With technology we can do a significant amount of the training online.” The high quality of collection work that clients receive is the result of a comprehensive collector training program specially designed to prepare specimen collectors with the knowledge and skills necessary for its diverse client base. Because collecting specimens for sports drug-testing is an extremely significant and integral part of a total drug-testing program, collectors must be trusted to perform the job professionally and provide privacy. They must also ensure the integrity and security of the speci- men through the entire collection process while also handling many administrative duties that vary by client. For these reasons, prospective collectors for Drug Free Sport must successfully pass a background check, agree to abide by the Collector Code of Ethics and maintain confidentiality. Drug Free Sport has conflict of interest and non-compete policies that collectors must agree to as well to maintain unbiased services. When Drug Free Sport moved from using individual contractors to using collector companies, it became a responsibility of those independent collection companies to recruit collectors, Thomas said. Once individuals have been recruited by the collection companies, Drug Free Sport staff will ensure they are an appropriate fit for servicing clients. The background checks are essential, as are high moral and ethical standards, she said. Even the financial history of potential collectors is important. “When you are working with high-profile athletes, it can be very tempting if you are offered money to pee in the cup for them,” Thomas said. “We check for previous bankruptcy filings and other financial problems.” Collectors come from many walks of life – nurses, EMTs and paramedics, athletic trainers and sports officials. In 1986, when the NCAA began drug testing, the collectors were all registered physicians, nurses and pharmacists. But it quickly became apparent that physicians were not readily available to do the collections. “Collectors have to be available to do specimen collections at odd times,” Thomas said. “If you have a full-time job, you have to have enough flexibility to work at odd hours and to travel. Many of the collectors we contract with now have flexible work schedules.” EMTs and paramedics are excellent collectors because they think nothing of going into dank locker rooms and working under time pressures, she said. Recruiters are encouraged to take potential collectors into the field to observe the collection process to see if it is something they really want to do, she said, even before training. Once individuals are recruited, the intensive training begins. Today, much of it is provided via the internet. Online courses allow collector candidates to log-in and work through the modules and lessons on demand. The candidates also participate in mock collections and complete on-the-job mentored training that includes the trainee working onsite shadowing an experienced, certified collector. They also perform collections onsite while being supervised by a certified collector train-the-trainer. A sports drug test is only as good as the collection process utilized to obtain the urine specimen. Collectors go through extensive training and certification to ensure the integrity of each test. “When it is mutually agreed that a candidate is “If a collector doesn’t do the job the way they ready, they will take the certification tests,” Thomas are supposed to, we can’t even send a sample said. to the lab,” Thomas said. “The chain of custody begins when the athlete is notified that he or she Even after certification, a collector is subject to has been selected for a drug test. Every step is no-notice spot checks, some by Drug Free Sport documented until the results are reported to the staff and some by collectors contracted for that client or to the athlete. Collectors must be nimble purpose. and flexible to adapt to the needs and demands of “If a collector is not performing well, they have different clients.” to take the courses again and will be required to As Drug Free Sport’s client base has expanded, its complete additional shadowing with a certified reach is extending into foreign countries where collector,” Thomas said. athletes may live or work in off seasons. Drug Free In addition to no-notice reviews, the majority of Sport contracts with certified collectors in the Drug Free Sport’s clients have representatives who Dominican Republic and Venezuela and is testing will fill out evaluations to provide feedback on per- in about 12 other countries, but currently has staff formance. The labs that handle the specimens are and a few contractors to handle the rest of the evaluating the work as well, monitoring the sealing international collection services. of specimens, the adequacy of the samples, etc. “We are prepared to provide collections internaCollectors are constantly provided feedback. tionally,” Thomas said. Certification is good for two years and continuWith an established network of certified collectors, ing education is provided on an ongoing basis to Drug Free Sport is able to handle the changing review current procedures and present revised or needs of its client base. Major League Baseball renew techniques. If a collector doesn’t meet the cently turned to Drug Free Sport to perform blood needs of Drug Free Sport clients, he or she will lose sample collections on Minor League players. certification and the contract will be terminated. “Drug Free Sport continues to be on the cutting “They have to be basically perfect in this line of edge and is prepared to continue assisting Major work,” Thomas said. League Baseball and any other client that may reDrug Free Sport makes a conscientious effort to quire blood collections in the future,” said Thomas. have a diverse group of professionals handling the To learn more about specimen collection services specimen collections who understand the dynamavailable from Drug Free Sport, please visit us ics of different athletic environments from which online at www.drugfreesport.com. they will collect more than 50,000 specimens each year. Mosier holds a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism with a focus in sports management from the University of Missouri. Prior to joining Drug Free Sport, Mosier completed an internship with the Kansas City Sports Commission and worked as a student marketing assistant for the University of Missouri Athletic Department. Plouzek holds a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Prior to joining Drug Free Sport, Plouzek worked at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications in Lincoln, Neb. Drug Free Sport Vice President Andrea Wickerham will be participating in a panel discussion regarding synthetic marijuana at the upcoming 2011 NCAA Convention, January 13th, in San Antonio, Tex. The session is titled, “Marijuana, K2 and Other Drug Use Concerns - What Athletics Departments Can Do.” Other participants on the panel are Doug Padron, Dir. of Sports Medicine at Monmouth University, and Dr. John Sullivan, Psych. D., Clinical Sport Psychologist at the University of Rhode Island. Mary Wilfert, NCAA Associate Director of Education Outreach, will serve as moderator of the panel. Drug education spotlight: Dallas Baptist University In a world of YouTube and iPads, one of the best ways to engage college student-athletes is through computers and the internet. So what better means of teaching them strategies to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol? Bring on myPlaybook, a web-based drug education tutorial created specifically for student-athletes. Just ask athletics department staff. Director of Athletics Ryan Erwin of Dallas Baptist University (right) is in his third year of using the program with all of his student-athletes and is very pleased with the results. “Before we used myPlaybook, we would bring in a speaker to talk on a topic with all the student-athletes for about 45 minutes,” Erwin said. “And we would give a brief synopsis of information about not drinking, not abusing drugs, etc. I think using myPlaybook to educate student-athletes is a lot more effective than what we were doing in the past.” Fourth Quarter, 2010 The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. ® c/o Daniel Regan 2537 Madison Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108 insight Season’s Greetings, and best wishes for a happy New Year from your friends at Drug Free Sport! FRANKLY SPEAKING – By Frank Uryasz, President, Drug Free Sport™ TEST NOW AVAILABLE TO DETER THE USE OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA (K2) DRUG FREE SPORT™ BELIEVES DBU was introduced to the program as part of a pilot project in NCAA Division II schools in 2008. Before using myPlaybook, Erwin was responsible for covering the drug and alcohol information in a classroom setting. It was hard to hold the attention of the athletes. • Testing is a necessary and effective drug-use prevention tool to develop athletes who are committed to success on and off the field. “There is a lot of good information in the myPlaybook program,” Erwin said. “It’s very hands-on. It’s all interactive. It keeps the student-athletes interested. They are always on the internet and online, so this holds their interest. These topics aren’t the most interesting but they are important, and the program keeps them interested. Sometimes when information is presented in a new way, they learn it better.” • Athletics participation is a privilege, and athletes cannot be allowed to abuse drugs at their expense, the expense of their teammates or at the expense of their sport. myPlaybook is presented via computer to each student-athlete one-on-one at a pace suitable to his or her learning style. Because the student must complete a lesson and pass a quiz before proceeding to the next section, the athletic department has a means of assessing what its student-athletes have learned. The program involves web-based learning exercises that provide immediate feedback to the student. The program is divided into six lessons – banned substances, alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, performance-enhancing drugs (including nutritional and dietary supplements), and prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The first year DBU used myPlaybook, all student-athletes were required to complete it. Now, all freshmen and any transfer students must work through the course, Erwin said. Over the past two years, about 175 athletes at Dallas Baptist have completed the course and another 48 are currently working on it. Erwin oversees administering the program and seeks help from coaches for any student-athletes who fall behind in their progress through the course. “We require the new student-athletes to complete myPlaybook within their first semester,” he said. Erwin said that after the pilot he received great reviews from the student-athletes. He said that he sees myPlaybook as preventive and a way to make them aware of any new information out there. myPlaybook is an evidence-based tutorial designed to prevent alcohol and other drug-related harm among college studentathletes. As the only online drug education program created specifically for college student-athletes, this interactive webbased program engages student-athletes using state-of-the-art instructional design. For more information on how to use myPlaybook to effectively reach your student-athletes with drug education, contact Becky Achen at (816) 474-8655, ext. 117 or email [email protected]. Learn more at drugfreesport.com/myPlaybook. Nationwide recall of testosterone booster supplement Another popular supplement has been recalled nationwide. Recently, Gaspari Nutrition announced that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of the company’s dietary supplement sold under the name Novedex XT, which was marketed “for increasing natural testosterone production” and contains 3,17-keto-etiocholetriene, also known as ATD, an antiaromatase. Gaspari Nutrition is conducting this consumer level recall after being informed by representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that 3,17-ketoetiocholetriene does not meet the definition of a dietary supplement and therefore the product is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Potential adverse events associated with the use of antiaromatases could include the following: decreased rate of bone maturation and growth, decreased sperm production, infertility, aggressive behavior, adrenal insufficiency, kidney failure and liver dysfunction. Novedex XT had been sold internationally and domestically, to distributors, wholesales, retail stores and direct to consumers, but was discontinued for domestic sales on October 4th, 2010. Athletes who have Novedex XT in their possession should stop using it immediately. If athletes experience any adverse side effects due to consumption of this product, they should immediately contact a physician. Athletes, coaches and administrators with questions regarding this recall can contact the company at 1-732-3643777 Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM, PST. For more information on this recall or on other supplements and banned substances, visit the Resource Exchange Center (REC) at www.drugfreesport.com/rec. • Research shows that most athletes are drug free. Therefore, we will at all times treat athletes with dignity and respect, and above all else, protect their privacy. • Strong relationships with certified, ethical sports drug-testing laboratories and collectors benefit our clients’ drug-testing programs. • Sports organizations differ in their philosophies on how to deter drug use. We support an organization’s right to conduct its programs according to its principles and objectives. • Not every sports organization shares our values, and we will not compromise what we believe in the name of increasing the bottom line. The National Center for Drug Free Sport® 2537 Madison Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108 816.474.8655 www.drugfreesport.com Drug Free Sport first reported on the topic of synthetic marijuana (K2, spice, etc.) in the First Quarter 2010 edition of Drug Free Sport Insight. We had been getting questions about the compound from athletes via Drug Free Sport’s Resource Exchange Center (REC) “hotline.” Lately, and unfortunately, there has been a lot more news about K2 and what appears to be growing abuse of the product. For example, in mid November, ABC News aired an excellent series of stories on what we know and what we don’t know about synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic marijuana). To watch the series, go to www.abcnews.com and enter “K2” as a search term. We don’t know the extent of K2 use in the athlete population. On one hand, K2 use by an athlete would lead to a deterioration of athletic performance, so athletes would appear to be outside the target market. On the other hand, K2 is marketed as being “undetectable in drug tests,” so it is reasonable to assume that the athlete population might be attracted to a substance that they think will go unnoticed in a routine sports drug test. This fall Drug Free Sport announced that we are now offering a test for selected synthetic cannabinoids through the Olympic Analytical Laboratory at UCLA, . Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about using this test to deter the use of synthetic marijuana. Readers of Insight know that Drug Free Sport has been partnering with its sports clients for years to provide educational resources and programs to deter the use of dietary supplements. Our Web site, www.drugfreesport.com has the latest news on dietary supplement recalls, stories on the effects of dietary supplement use and the latest research on what works and what doesn’t. I am always pleased when other organizations and publications help us to educate the public about dietary supplements. One recent example is Consumer Reports. In its September 2010 edition, Consumer Reports ran a story titled, “The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements.” The list included three compounds we often see on the labels of sports supplements: bitter orange, germanium and yohimbe. These compounds appear on many but not all banned-drug lists for sports organizations. The article is an easy-to-understand review and contains many good messages for athletes. As we close out 2010, I want to thank you for the opportunity to partner with you on your drug-prevention programs. The staff at Drug Free Sport takes great pride in serving as a trusted advisor to our clients. We look forward to working with you in 2011.