COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Coalition for Anabolic Steroid Precursor and Ephedra Regulation (CASPER) announced, Monday, Nov. 24, that USA Wrestling has joined in the support of legislation regarding the regulation of dietary supplements that contain steroid precursors or ephedra.    CASPER is comprised of the nation's leading medical, public health and sport organizations, and is focused on supporting efforts to regulate products containing steroid precursors and products containing ephedra. CASPER was initially founded to support The Anabolic Steroid Precursor Control and Health Education Act (H.R. 207), which was co-sponsored by Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Tom Osborne (R-Neb.). A complete list of CASPER's current members can be found at the end of this release.      "There needs to be immediate action to protect the American public, especially our youth, who believe that these supplements are safe to use. Recent deaths in professional sports have pointed out the problem, and the athletes in Olympic sports are facing the same serious medical challenges," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. "Regulating these substances could help eliminate the embarrassing positive doping tests and career-ending sanctions that have been traced back to these supplements. USA Wrestling is committed to battling against medically dangerous performance-enhancing substances."    USA Wrestling is the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, an Olympic and Pan American member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and a member of the international wrestling federation FILA.    The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2003 was co-sponsored by Senators Joseph R. Biden (D-Del.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in October 2003. The proposed bill would apply to substances that, once ingested, metabolize in the body into anabolic steroids. It would would amend the Controlled Substances Act to clarify the definition of anabolic steroids and to provide for research and education activities relating to steroids and steroid precursors. With the flood of these anabolic steroid precursors currently being marketed as anabolic-equivalent "dietary supplements" that promise to magically build muscle, the aforementioned Senators introduced the new legislation to reclassify the precursors as controlled substances.    Steroid precursors are substances that are converted in the body into steroids, which have an anabolic effect. The steroid precursors are themselves steroids. In almost all cases, the substances formed in the body from steroid precursors that are responsible for their advertised actions are scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. Ephedra use in a small but significant number of otherwise healthy individuals has been associated with heart attack, stroke, and psychoses. In specific circumstances, it has been associated with death. The increased use of these substances increases the risk that otherwise healthy individuals will have an adverse medical event.    "The Coalition for Anabolic Steroid Precursor and Ephedra Regulation was formed to coordinate the efforts of the top U.S. medical, public health and sport organizations with an end result of changing the laws and regulations regarding the exclusion of steroid precursors and ephedra in dietary supplements," said Shawn Smeallie, CASPER Executive Director.     The Anabolic Steroid Precursor Control and Health Education Act was co-sponsored by congressmen John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) and Tom Osborne (R-Neb.) in October 2002. It was reintroduced in January 2003 as H.R. 207. The proposed bill would apply to substances that, once ingested, metabolize in the body into anabolic steroids.     Currently, these anabolic steroid precursors are being marketed as anabolic-equivalent "dietary supplements" that promise to magically build muscle. The manufacturers of these products are not required to perform any safety testing prior to releasing these potentially dangerous steroid equivalents. To correct this situation, Rep. Sweeney and  Rep. Osborne moved quickly to draft the new legislation reclassifying anabolic steroid precursors as controlled substances.    "The use of these dangerous supplements has become a serious health issue for the American public as a whole," said Rep. Sweeney. "We cannot allow their abuse to simultaneously ruin the health of those who have been duped into using them for everything from the promise of quick-fix weight loss to that of a magic muscle powder, as well as degrade the competitive spirit of athletic competition."     "I'm pleased with the creation of CASPER and its mission. It works to spread the word about important efforts and legislation geared to protect young athletes and non-athletes," Rep. Osborne said. "We need to make sure that steroid precursor manufacturers are no longer able to  exploit teenagers, athletes and unsuspecting consumers by selling them untested, unregulated steroid equivalents, labeled 'dietary supplements.'"    "I'm pleased to work with CASPER to curb the illicit use of pro-steroids and other harmful performance-enhancing drugs. CASPER and its member organizations do a great job of spreading the word that anabolic steroids precursors are dangerous and need to be regulated," said Sen. Biden.     CASPER will also rely on the grassroots efforts of its member organizations and the U.S. public to ensure that members of the U.S. Congress and Senate are aware of their concerns regarding the health dangers of dietary supplements.     The coalition continues to look to adding other medical, public health and athletic organizations to strengthen and extend CASPER's reach and voice.      CASPER Members (as of Nov. 21, 2003)     American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)  American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)  American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)  American College for Sports Medicine (ACSM)  American Council on Exercise (ACE)  American Medical Association (AMA)  Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)  Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)  The Endocrine Society   The Hormone Foundation  National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)  National Center for Drug-Free Sport  National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)  National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS)  National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA)  National Football League (NFL)  National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)  Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc.   USA Football   United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)  U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC)  National Governing Bodies - US Biathlon, US Soccer, USA Boxing, USA Cycling, USA Luge, USA Swimming, USA Team Handball, USA Track and Field, USA Wrestling