MAC HIKES DRUG SALES

Androstenedione Demand Increasing, Distributor Claims

Mark McGwire isn't just boosting attendance with his dramatic home run
chase - he's having a big impact on sales of androstenedione.

As the debate rages over revelations of McGwire's use of the
testosterone-producing supplement, one thing seems certain -
androstenedione is destined to become more popular than ever before.

One distributor of the product in the United States that advertises on
the Internet said he sold 50 bottles Saturday - the day stories about
McGwire's use appeared in the newspapers - and was well on his way to
surpassing that total early yesterday. He said he normally sold three
or four bottles per day.

``It's sadly ironic that this unfortunate situation may just be a
marketing bonanza for those that are profiting from the sale of these
products,'' said Dr. Andrew Pipe, chairman of the Canadian Centre for
Ethics in Sport.

Androstenedione is sold over-the-counter in the U.S. but is prohibited
in Canada and is banned by the International Olympic Committee, the
NFL and the NCAA, all of which view the drug as an anabolic steroid.

Olympic champion shotputter Randy Barnes of the U.S. faces a lifetime
ban after testing positive recently for androstenedione. It was his
second positive drug test.

But androstenedione is not banned by Major League Baseball, which
under its drug program prohibits ``all illegal drugs and controlled
substances, including steroids or prescription drugs for which the
individual in possession of the drug does not have a prescription.''
The league does not test its athletes.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Canseco told reporters he has used
androstenedione for the past six months, while McGwire said he's been
on it for more than a year.

The Blue Jays yesterday said that its medical policy has been
broadened to include androstenedione ``as a non-recommended
supplement.''

A statement issued by general manager Gord Ash said that because
androstenedione and Creatine, another bodybuilding substance, ``are
not considered banned or illegal within the baseball industry . . .
our only alternative is to properly educate and advise our players of
the possible risks of long-term utilization.''

Those who lead the anti-doping effort in Canada said that professional
baseball is now paying a price for its lack of a clear policy on
performance-enhancing drugs.

``I think it's going to come back to haunt them,'' Pipe said. ``I
think you're going to hear similar kinds of stories in the future. It
reveals the shortcomings of many pro sports organizations to address
the issue in any comprehensive manner.

``Pro sports have to decide if they're in the entertainment business
or the sports business. If they're in the sports business, they're
going to have to make sure the accomplishments of their athletes are
human accomplishments and not pharmaceutical achievements.''

Victor Lachance, chief executive officer of the Canadian Centre for
Ethics in Sport, said those watching the home run derby will now have
a jaundiced view of the proceedings.

``Instead of just sitting back and watching this race for the home run
record, there's this debate on whether it's really fair. Is it
athletic excellence or is it drugs?'' Lachance said.

``It's the league that has created this environment. Mark McGwire
hasn't broken any rules. It's unfair to Mark McGwire. He didn't create
this environment.''

Rosie Schwartz, a noted Toronto nutritionist and author, thinks the
message being sent by McGwire is the wrong one.

``My concern as a nutritionist is that people will look at Mark
McGwire or Jose Canseco and they'll want to go to Buffalo to get that
stuff,'' she said. ``And when it comes to (nutritional supplements
unavailable in Canada), people find ways to bring those things into
the country.''

Pipe said an additional problem is that there is no way to verify the
accuracy of labelling or the content of the bottle.

And with little or no long-term scientific studies available on the
effects of some steroids, ``whether or not Mark McGwire breaks the
record and they put an asterisk beside his name is not the big
issue,'' Schwartz said. ``You need to look at the long term.''

The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., which is investigating
androstenedione, has it defined as a ``dietary supplement.''

Androstenedione is a direct precursor to testosterone. Enzymes in the
liver quickly transform androstenedione into testosterone, elevating
the testosterone levels of the user. The rationale of athletes using
the drug is that it enables them to train harder and recover more quickly.

``If testosterone is banned, a direct precursor of testosterone should
also be banned,'' said Dr. Christiane Ayotte, head of the
IOC-accredited laboratory in Montreal. ``It's obvious that it is
increasing testosterone levels.''

Like Major League Baseball, most of the other pro leagues don't have a
clear-cut policy.

The NHL does not have a league-wide testing program in
place.

The NBA has no definitive policy on steroids. The league and its
players are currently negotiating a new collective bargaining
agreement, of which drug testing is a part.

The expired agreement provides for testing for so-called recreational
drugs cocaine and heroin, although there is a desire in some circles
to also include marijuana in the next union-league deal.

The NFL conducts weekly steroid tests for its players during the
season and does periodic out-of-season testing of players selected at
random. The league also has tests for ``reasonable cause'' for players
with prior steroid infractions.

The CFL doesn't have a formal drug and doping policy with its players'
union, league spokesperson Jim Neish said.

``It's kind of a gray area for us. With no formal policy, the
commissioner would deal with an issue like that if and when it came to
light.

``If, for instance, a player is caught taking a banned substance, the
commissioner would treat it on an individual basis.''

Checked-by: Patrick Henry