NEWS> Ephadra Back in the Center of Attention After Major League Baseball Player Who Was Using Ephadra Dies
- From: Gleason Sackmann <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: NetHappenings <nethappenings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 12:05:53 -0600
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Net Happenings - From Educational CyberPlayGround
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From: "David P. Dillard" <jwne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 12:47:56 -0500 (EST)
Another death of a player in a hot environment, another user of ephadra
and the ephadra debate is alive and well again.
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Baseball Player's Death Re-Ignites Ephedra Debate
<http://news.findlaw.com/sports/s/20030219/mlbhealthephedradc.html>
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A heated debate over the safety of ephedra -- a
popular but controversial weight-loss supplement -- is being fueled by
news that a coroner is checking whether it contributed to the death of a
strapping professional baseball player.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler died on Monday after
collapsing during spring training. Bechler, 23, was slightly overweight
and ephedra supplements were found in his locker.
Broward County, Florida Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper said he
believed the supplement had something to do with Bechler's death from
heatstroke. He said he had learned that Bechler took three daily tablets
of Xenadrine RFA-1, one brand of supplement containing ephedra.
Manufacturers of the supplement insist their product is safe when taken as
directed.
The National Football League, the International Olympic Committee and the
National Collegiate Athletics Association have banned ephedra use among
players but baseball leagues have not. "I would like to hope that this
very unfortunate and tragic death would prompt, perhaps, the baseball
association and other groups to ban them from their practice," Perper told
a news conference on Tuesday.
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Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific
Major League Baseball
Notebook: Orioles' Angelos wants ban on ephedra
By Seattle Times news services
<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134638222_base21.html>
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos called on
Major League Baseball to ban ephedrine, a stimulant that might have
contributed to the death of pitcher Steve Bechler.
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Ephedra Council defends its product
ASSOCIATED PRESS
4:40 p.m., February 20, 2003
<http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/
20030220-1640-bba-orioles-bechler.html>
The Ephedra Education Council said Thursday that Bechler's death should
not automatically be linked to the dietary supplement.
"So far, I have trouble believing ephedra played a role in this tragedy,"
Dr. Carlon Colker, CEO and medical director of Peak Wellness Inc., said
Thursday on a conference call arranged by the council. "This was clearly a
case of heat stroke. Taking ephedra as directed does not lead to heat
stroke."
Ephedra is banned by the NFL, the NCAA and IOC but not by major league
baseball. The Food and Drug Administration has reports of at least 100
deaths linked to the supplement, which is used in weight loss programs.
Attorney Wes Siegner, a spokesman for the Council, added that "at this
point there is no solid evidence he consumed ephedra or if he did that it
contributed to his death. Over 55 clinical studies testify to the safety
of ephedra. It is popular because it works and people need help losing
weight."
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New bill would outlaw ephedra
Herb reportedly used by pitcher who died
Robert Salladay, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Friday, February 21, 2003
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/
chronicle/archive/2003/02/21/MN56042.DTL>
Sacramento -- Less than a week after a Baltimore Orioles pitcher collapsed
and died at spring training, a state senator said she will introduce a
bill outlawing dietary supplements that contain ephedra.
State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, says she wants to act quickly to
ban ephedra, an herb stimulant that Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler
reportedly used for weight reduction. An ephedra-based supplement was
found in his locker, but toxicology tests are still being conducted to
determine the exact cause of death.
"How many more people have to die before we decide that ephedra poses an
unacceptable risk to the public?" said Speier.
Under a California law that went into effect last month, sales of ephedra-
based products to minors are outlawed, and warning labels are required for
dietary supplements that contain the herb. The labels must include a
toll-free number to report health problems to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.
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Industry group counterattacks after pitcher's death linked to ephedra
Thursday,February20,2003,8:09 PM
<http://www.wpmi.com/Global/story.asp?S=1142722>
------------------------
Full Stories May Be Read at the URLs Above.
David Dillard Research Librarian
david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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(215) 204 - 4584
jwne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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