Newsletter #63 -- 3,6,17-Androstenetrione Banned? (1-27-09)Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you. As many of you probably already know, 3,6,17-Androstenetrione has been in the news a lot lately. I have been getting a number of emails concerning 3,6,17-Androstenetrione that revolve around its legal status and whether or not it can show up on drug tests. I will provide all the information I have concerning these issues in this email. If you currently use 3,6,17-Androstenetrione and/or plan on using it in the future, you are definitely going to want to read this email. And even if you don’t use 3,6,17-Androstenetrione or don’t plan on using it, I still encourage you to read on, as this is one bizarre and interesting story, which reveals much about the future of the sports supplement industry. But, I warn you, this story is convoluted and a bit of quagmire. I will try to wade through all the hype and misinformation to give you my best assessment of what is really going on with 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. On January 6, 2009, news began to hit the national media outlets that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero, who had just helped lead his team to a World Series victory in 2008, had tested positive for a substance banned by Major League Baseball (MLB) as a performance enhancing drug. MLB has not come out and said exactly what the banned substance was, just that Romero had tested positive for a metabolite of testosterone (a failed testosterone doping analysis) and would be suspended from MLB for 50 games in the 2009 season. Then Romero came out and made a public statement, claiming that he has never used performance enhancing drugs and that the positive test result was caused by him taking a legal dietary supplement, he purchased at his local General Nutrition Center (GNC), called 6-OXO Extreme. 6-OXO Extreme is the trade name for a supplement sold under the brand name Ergopharm. Ergopharm was owned and operated by Patrick Arnold. (Yes, the same Patrick Arnold who did jail time for his involvement in the Balco scandal.) The Ergopharm brand was sold to Proviant Technologies last year and then in December of 2008, Proviant Technologies sold the Ergopharm brand to Sports Supplement Acquisition Group, Inc. Patrick Arnold continues to be heavily involved with the design of supplements under the Ergopharm brand. The supplement 6-OXO Extreme contains a number of ingredients, but the main ingredient (the compound in question) is 4-etioallocholen-3,6,17-trione. 4-etioallocholen-3,6,17-trione is a longer version of the name for 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. They are one in the same. 6-OXO Extreme has 60 capsules per bottle and contains 75mg of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione per capsule. Ergopharm also sells a pure version of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione under the trade name 6-OXO, which has 60 capsules per bottle and has 100mg of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione per capsule. HouseOfMuscle.com sells 3,6,17-Androstenetrione also. Our product has 60 capsules per bottle and contains 500mg of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione per capsule. So, you can see that the HouseOfMuscle.com version of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione has a much higher potency and is a much better value. So now the question is, did Romero really test positive for 3,6,17-Androstenetrione? For that to be the case 3,6,17-Androstenetrione would have to be on MLB's banned substance list and they would have had to specifically test for 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. As far as I can tell, this is not the case. To my knowledge, 3,6,17-Androstenetrione has not been added to MLB’s (or any major sports organization’s) banned substance list. There were rumors swirling around the 2008 Olympic Games that 3,6,17-Androstenetrione was going to be put on the banned substance list by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and there was even a rumor that a hammer thrower had tested positive for 3,6,17-Androstenetrione and had been banned from the Games. I dug into these rumors and to my knowledge they were not true. A hammer thrower did test positive for a banned substance and he claimed he tested positive from taking 6-OXO (3,6,17-Androstenetrione), but that was just his claim and no proof to the validity of that claim was ever presented. Fueling these rumors was a position statement put out by The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). In this statement, WADA claimed that 3,6,17-Androstenetrione should be classified as a steroid. But aside from making this position statement, to my knowledge, no other action was taken by WADA or the IOC concerning 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. It is entirely possible that Romero was purposely taking a banned substance, for example synthetic testosterone, and then when he tested positive, he tried to blame it on the 6-OXO Extreme he bought at his local GNC. On the surface this defense would make sense. The 3,6,17-Androstenetrione in 6-OXO Extreme would cause a rise in his natural testosterone production, so he could say that his testosterone to epi-testosterone ratios where above the accepted level because he was taking this legal supplement. Unfortunately for Romero, this argument does not hold water. The natural testosterone boosting effects of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione would not cause enough of a spike in testosterone to cause a positive test result. Was Romero using 6-OXO Extreme as a cover for his purposeful use of another banned substance? Maybe, but there is another possibility. Ergopharm has recently come out with a new version of their 1-AD product (which was banned as part of the 2004 Anabolic Steroid Act). They claim the new version of 1-AD ultimately converts to 1-Androstenediol, similar to the old version of 1-AD. This new version of 1-AD is most likely being manufactured on the same equipment as 6-OXO and 6-OXO Extreme. So, cross-contamination is a possibility. Residue from the new version of 1-AD could be making its way into 6-OXO and 6-OXO Extreme and it could actually be residue from their new version of 1-AD that caused the positive drug test. Although this is a possibility, I find it highly unlikely. I am sure Ergopharm’s quality control standards are very good and I find it hard to believe this could happen, but it is possible. Plus, if this is the case, it raises the question of why Ergopharm is manufacturing and selling any product that would cause a positive drug test. Another possibility is that Ergopharm purposely put a substance into 6-OXO Extreme that is not listed on the label. I also find this hard to believe, and I certainly hope that this is not the case. The “advanced supplement” portion of the sports supplement industry is having a hard enough time bringing its products to market and if news came out that Ergopharm was purposely mislabeling its products, this would be incredibly damaging to the entire sports supplement industry. Things got even more bizarre when it hit the media outlets that on January 15th, Ergopharm’s manufacturing facility in Champaign, IL was raided by the DEA. I am not really sure why the DEA raided Ergopharm, but the impetus of the raid could have come from an independent arbitrator’s report that was performed for MLB. This report stated that a sample of 6-OXO Extreme was tested for MLB and that the test results showed that the sample of 6-OXO Extreme used for the test contained a substance that could result in a positive drug test. The DEA could have used this information to get approval for their raid. Plus, the fact that Patrick Arnold is involved probably has something to do with raid. Arnold is definitely not a “favorite” of the DEA. What makes this part of the story very strange is that the independent laboratory analysis performed on the sample of 6-OXO Extreme was presented to the commissioner of MLB, Bud Selig, back in July of 2008. To my knowledge MLB did nothing to notify its players about this report. Also, it has come to light that Romero’s positive test result happened shortly after this report was presented to MLB. Apparently, it was at this time that Romero presented his defense (using 6-OXO Extreme) to MLB, and that MLB tried to make a deal with Romero. MLB told Romero that if he accepted the positive test result, they would cut the suspension in half to only 25 games. Romero refused to take the deal. The case went into an appeal process and Romero was allowed to complete the 2008 season and helped lead his team to a World Series victory. It is only now, after the appeal process has run its course, which Romero lost, that the positive test result has come to light to the public. As the fire of negative publicity swirls around Patrick Arnold (well, maybe it is not all negative as sales of 6-OXO and 6-OXO Extreme surged when this news hit), he has come out and made some public statements. He has stated that, “6-OXO Extreme does not contain any ingredient that would cause a positive drug test.” But at the same time he is saying this, Ergopharm has recently started putting a warning label on 6-OXO Extreme which says, “Use of this product may be banned by some athletic or government associations.” I told you this story was bizarre. Arnold has also stated that, “Perhaps he (Romero) took testosterone and they are using 6-OXO as a cover-up”. Perhaps that is the case, but whatever is going on here has definitely brought the sale and distribution of “advanced sports supplements” into the light of the mass media, different athletic organizations and various government agencies. In November of 2008, the Major League Baseball Players Union sent a letter to all players stating: “We have previously told you there is no reason to believe a supplement bought at a U.S.-based retail store could cause you to test positive under our Drug Program. That is no longer true. We have recently learned of substances, which can be bought over the counter at stores in the United States, that will cause you to test positive. These supplements were purchased at a GNC and Vitamin Shoppe in the U.S.” Statements like this bring into question the entire sports supplement industry and fuel impetus on the parts of politicians and government agencies to look into these “advanced supplements” concerning issues of legality and safety. What does all this mean for you, the customer, who uses and wants to continue to use these types of products? Well, it is not good. Right now it is my position, as Founder and Owner of HouseOfMuscle.com, that 3,6,17-Androstenetrione will not cause a positive drug test result for a banned substance by any athletic governing body or organization. I believe there is more going on here with Romero’s suspension they meets the eye. I will continue to monitor the situation to the best of my ability and keep you posted on any new developments concerning drug testing and 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. The truth is, most of you guys are not really concerned about drug testing. Most of you do not compete in sports governed by athletic bodies. Most of you just take the supplements I sell to help you get more results from the time you spend training in your attempts to build harder, leaner, more muscular and stronger bodies. That is great. The bigger issue that should concern you is the legal status of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione and whether or not you will be able to continue to buy it. 3,6,17-Androstenetrione is still legal to obtain and use as a dietary supplement, at least for now, but this could change very quickly. If the DEA raid on Ergopharm is any indication, the legal status of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione could change very soon. When the media and politicians get involved they spur the government to act, even if that action is misguided. If used correctly, by healthy adult men, 3,6,17-Androstenetrione is a totally safe product. It sparks production of natural testosterone in a way that is not only void of side effects, but also probably good for health, especially in older men. It is not a steroid and there is nothing about the structure of this compound that even resembles a steroid. Currently, 3,6,17-Androstenetrione is a safe alternative to anabolic steroids and in my opinion, it should be allowed to be sold as a legal dietary supplement, now and in the future. Unfortunately, my opinion doesn’t matter to “the powers that be”. Most likely very soon, 3,6,17-Androstenetrione will be added to the waste heap of banned “advanced supplements” along with Andro, 1-AD, Methyl 1-Test and many others. I will continue to sell 3,6,17-Androstenetrione as long as it is legal to do so. My current supply is good and I don’t foresee any problem in availability for at least 3-4 months, but then everything could change. If the government takes action, they will stop the flow of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione at the source, the manufacturers. Then the supply will dwindle and prices will sky rocket until the last few bottles are finally washed out into the hands of the last few lucky customers who are able to get their hands on this amazing supplement. You have my word that I will not horde my current supply and I will not gouge my customers by raising prices. I will sell 3,6,17-Androstenetrione, as long as it is legal to do so, until the last bottle is gone and I will not raise my prices while doing so. One bottle of HouseOfMuscle.com 3,6,17-Androstenetrione contains 60 capsules and each capsule contains 500mg of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. The retail price is $59.99, but my very low sale price is only $44.99. If you buy 3,6,17-Androstenetrione in my 3,6,17-Androstenetrione 15 Week Pyramid Cycle (which is the best way to take it), the retail price is $239.96, but my very low sale price is only $150.96. So, when buying the four bottles of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione needed to complete the 15 Week Pyramid Cycle you save $29.99 off my already low sale price if you bought the four bottles individually. 3,6,17-Androstenetrione is also part of my 15 Week Dynamic-Duo Muscle Building Stack (an awesome stack of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione and 17-Methyl-dione Extreme (Version IV)). The retail price of the 15 Week Dynamic-Duo Muscle Building Stack is $499.92, but my very low sale price is only $299.92. You save $80.00 off my already low sale price if you bought the eight bottles in the 15 Week Dynamic-Duo Pyramid Stack individually. Plus, don’t forget about my ultimate stack, the 15 Week Sward’s Stack, which also contains 3,6,17-Androstenetrione. The retail price of the 15 Week Sward’s Stack is $859.94, but my very low sale price is only $509.94. So, you save $130.00 off my already low sale price if you bought the sixteen bottles in the 15 Week Sward’s Stack individually. However you choose to take 3,6,17-Androstenetrione, and I do encourage you to take it, as it is one amazing supplement, you need to be aware that most likely sometime soon, probably very soon, this product will no longer be available. If you plan to use 3,6,17-Androstentrione in the future, the time to stock up is now. My current batch has an expiration date of November 2013. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your hands on as much 3,6,17-Androstenetrione as you think you are going to need. The end of 3,6,17-Androstenetrione is looming. Don’t be left out in the cold. ORDER TODAY! Train Hard! Joel Sward Founder/Owner Of HouseOfMuscle.com joel@houseofmuscle.com http://www.HouseOfMuscle.com (c) HouseOfMuscle.com, LLC — 2003-2009. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The statements made about this product have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
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