Any thought the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) could be nursing of testing dietary supplements at the request of various National federations, on behalf of sportspersons, to determine whether they are ‘safe' or not, will need to be banished the moment the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reminds it of its obligations under the International Standards for Laboratories (ISL).
The debate about the laboratory testing supplements has come up following a series of positive tests in recent days for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant under the ‘non-specified' category in the WADA prohibited list.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the ‘positive tests' resulted from the use of supplements, and not through cooking oil (if there is one), as had been made out in some quarters, or nasal drops and inhalers, again, if such products are readily available.
Though supplements are reportedly being supplied to National probables by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), after being cleared by an ‘expert' panel (it could not be ascertained whether the clearance was on the basis of analysis done at NDTL), the question of openly testing more for the benefit of sportspersons cannot arise.
For, the ISL (Article 4.4) states: “The Laboratory shall not engage in analyzing commercial material or preparations (e.g. dietary supplements) unless specifically requested by an Anti-Doping Organization as part of a doping case investigation. The Laboratory shall not provide results, documentation or advice that, in anyway, suggests endorsement of products or services.”
An investigation funded by the International Olympic Committee found in 2001 that many of the supplements available in the international market were contaminated with steroids testosterone and nandrolone.
Wada warning
The IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had been warning athletes about the use of supplements since they could lead to ‘positive' dope test results if contaminated.
The WADA Code does provide for a reduced sanction if it could be established that the athlete had taken due care and he cannot be held responsible for a contaminated or mislabelled multi-vitamin or nutritional supplement.
In the ongoing doping cases, however, if the ‘supplements' angle is proved, the argument cannot be of contamination but that of ignorance.
In almost all products of methylhexaneamine, the predominant labelling is that of dimethylamylamine or DMAA (synonym of methylhexaneamine) often mixed with caffeine and some also with creatine.
Even though approved in the US as a non-pharmaceutical product since it contains a small percentage of geranium oil, an essential oil derived from geranium plant, it is widely available as a supplement, used by fitness freaks, bodybuilders and in power sports. (An essential oil is one that contains aromatic compounds derived from plants).
Geranium oil's absorption through skin and hair, so as to be excreted through urine for it to test positive for methylhexaneamine, is not known.
The speculation about geranium oil, as a cooking medium or massage oil, capable of producing ‘positive' results for methylhexaneamine has resulted in several of the affected sportspersons already discussing ‘escape' routes.
It reminds one of several nandrolone cases around the world in the 90s when consumption of wild boar testicles and beef injected with nandrolone, and, in one famous case, sex the previous night, were cited as reasons for the abnormal readings. Nothing succeeded, though.
