Supplements linked to false positives
UK Anti-Doping had linked nutritional supplements to several positive tests for methylhexaneamine, a banned substance which was found in the blood of Portuguese brothers Rui and Mario Costa and several other cyclists. The UKAD discovered the link after British
shot-putter Rachel Wallader tested positive for the substance and appealed the ruling, resulting in a reduced ban. On Thursday, they publicly issued a warning that sportspeople exercise further caution in the use of nutritional supplements.
“Methylhexaneamine is increasingly being found in nutritional supplements, typically those that are designed to increase energy or aid weight loss,” read the warning. “There is a risk that supplements could contain this or other prohibited substances, even
if the ingredients listed on the label do not appear on the World Anti-Doping Code’s Prohibited List. This is because some prohibited substances are referred to on supplement labelling by different names.”
Wallader’s coach Geoff Capes gave her a supplement including 1,3-dimethylamylamine, which has since been proven to be methylhexaneamine under a different name. Several athletes in Australia and India have also recently tested positive for the substance.
The case of the Costa brothers is currently being investigated by the Portuguese Cycling Federation. It was recently announced that banned substance methylhexaneamine will have its status downgraded to Specified Substance status in 2011, but it is unclear
whether or not that will play a factor in the eventual ruling in the Costa brothers’ case.
“Whilst its downgrading in status in the 2011 Prohibited List is a welcome development, methylhexaneamine remains prohibited,” said UKAD Anti-Doping Chief Executive Andy Parkinson. “Whether intentional or unintentional, its presence in the system can lead
to an anti-doping rule violation and a ban from sport.”
Rui Costa finished first in the national time-trial championships and fifth in the under-23 world championships. Prior to the positive test, RadioShack, Vacansoleil and the new Luxembourg team had expressed interest in his signing.
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