As the 2016 Summer Olympics begins, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has carried out a new review of unauthorized medicines being marketed as sports supplements, which shows a reduction of almost 50 percent, compared to a similar study carried out in 2012.
The review, launched in the run up to the Rio Olympics, is part of the MHRA’s ongoing commitment to protect people from potentially dangerous products. This is an encouraging sign and points to the sports supplement industry taking account of MHRA concerns regarding the sale of products regulated as medicines.
The MHRA’s Medicines Borderline section invited 33 UK-based companies to carry out a review of their product ranges and subsequently take action to remove unauthorized medicinal products from the market. These contained a number of ingredients which cause a significant physiological effect on the body.
The review found that 69 unauthorized medicines were being sold as sports supplements and 16 companies were found to be selling one or more unauthorized medicines.
This is compared to 128 unauthorized medicines and 36 websites prior to the 2012 London Olympics.
Dr. Chris Jones, MHRA Medicines Borderline Section manager said:
“During this period, we anticipate that the public’s interest in sports and body building supplements is likely to rise, and with it, the potential for more unlawful products. We have decided to dedicate additional time and resources to this market area, to help both companies and the buying public.
UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said:
“UK Anti-Doping welcomes the work by the MHRA in clamping down on the use of unauthorized medicines in supplement products. As the supplement industry grows, we continue to work with sports, athletes and their support personnel to raise awareness of the risks associated with supplement use in our efforts to protect clean sports.”