Doctor urges ban in row over steroids
FORMER Irish Olympic team doctor Maire O'Brien yesterday stuck by her assertion that a product containing an anabolic steroid is openly on sale here.
But the British company Maximuscle, which makes a range of bodybuilding products, rejected her allegation that their products contained anabolic steroids or could be harmful to health.
Prof O'Brien, head of anatomy at TCD, said she became alarmed when she noticed a jar of tablets with the brand name 19 NOR. It listed an anabolic steroid called androstenedione among its ingredients.
She said this was despite carrying a label which stated: ``This product contains no anabolic steroid.''
Prof O'Brien said she believed such a product should be banned as it could cause harmful effects to some users.
Speaking on RTE radio, she added: ``It is well known in the gyms that if you want to bulk up this is what you take, not realising that they can get testicular infertility, tumours of the liver, increased risk of coronary heart disease, increased aggression and as a result of when they stop steroids there's an increase risk of suicide clinically.''
But Maximuscle spokesman Zef Eisenberg strongly denied the product contained any anabolic steroids.
He said the 19 NOR product currently on sale on had replaced androstenidione with other ingredients and brochures referred to by the professor were out of date.
Howver, the professor stuck by her claim and said the label of the bottle that had been bought in Dublin clearly listed androstenidione among its ingredients.
Responding to this point, Mr Eisenberg said: ``Well, she didn't buy it from me.'' He added the company could not be held responsible for old stock that might still be on sale in Ireland.
He also rejected claims that any of the company's products could have harmful side-effects.
He said the worst that could happen in the case of someone exceeding the recommended dosage was that they might put on too much muscle mass or suffer slight stomach upsets.
``We always comply with the latest regulations,'' he said.
He said all the company's products were thoroughly researched for at least a year and there had been no case of any athlete taking Maximuscle suffering side-effects.
He said 19 NOR contained ``a precursor which converts to testosterone in the body through an enzyme process''.
Prof O'Brien said the International Olympic Council was only too well aware that natural precursors of testosterone caused an increase in the amount that was produced.
She added that she was concerned that a number of sporting personalities were endorsing a product which she believed should be banned.
