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| DMAA supplement linked to marathon runner's death is still on sale online | DMAA supplement linked to marathon runner's death is still on sale online |
| (12 days later) | |
| The supplement that contributed to the death of the marathon runner Claire Squires is still available legally through overseas websites, it has emerged, despite it being banned for sale in the UK by regulators four months after she died. | The supplement that contributed to the death of the marathon runner Claire Squires is still available legally through overseas websites, it has emerged, despite it being banned for sale in the UK by regulators four months after she died. |
| Several websites outside Europe that ship to the UK still sell the "original" Jack3D supplement, containing the amphetamine-like stimulant DMAA (1.3 dimethylamylamine) that an inquest found on Wednesday had been a contributory factor in the death of the 30-year-old a mile from the finish line of the London Marathon. | Several websites outside Europe that ship to the UK still sell the "original" Jack3D supplement, containing the amphetamine-like stimulant DMAA (1.3 dimethylamylamine) that an inquest found on Wednesday had been a contributory factor in the death of the 30-year-old a mile from the finish line of the London Marathon. |
| Because the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) can only regulate products on sale on the UK high street or through UK-based websites, online retailers based overseas can still legally ship the product to the UK. | Because the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) can only regulate products on sale on the UK high street or through UK-based websites, online retailers based overseas can still legally ship the product to the UK. |
| "We have no jurisdiction over other countries," confirmed a spokesman for the MHRA, an executive agency of the Department of Health. "We try to work with regulatory partners to try to get websites taken down if they are in Europe but we can't do much about sales from other countries like China, Russia or the US. | "We have no jurisdiction over other countries," confirmed a spokesman for the MHRA, an executive agency of the Department of Health. "We try to work with regulatory partners to try to get websites taken down if they are in Europe but we can't do much about sales from other countries like China, Russia or the US. |
| "Even if products are being sold into the UK from Europe, we only have a degree of success." | "Even if products are being sold into the UK from Europe, we only have a degree of success." |
| Once the product has entered the UK, it is not illegal to buy or possess it. "Substances we have banned are not controlled substances," added the MHRA spokesman. "Our ruling means that products containing DMAA are, effectively, unlicensed medicines." | Once the product has entered the UK, it is not illegal to buy or possess it. "Substances we have banned are not controlled substances," added the MHRA spokesman. "Our ruling means that products containing DMAA are, effectively, unlicensed medicines." |
| He said there was a "vastly under-reported" problem of people selling banned products to each other in gyms. "This happens in a very 'under the radar'-type way," he added. "The majority of people who take DMAA products are regular gym-goers. The police would not get involved." | He said there was a "vastly under-reported" problem of people selling banned products to each other in gyms. "This happens in a very 'under the radar'-type way," he added. "The majority of people who take DMAA products are regular gym-goers. The police would not get involved." |
| The manufacturer of Jack3D reformulated the ingredients of the supplement after it was banned in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, but several sites still sell the original formulation. | The manufacturer of Jack3D reformulated the ingredients of the supplement after it was banned in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, but several sites still sell the original formulation. |
| When it banned the powdered supplement, the MHRA said it was the most popular of its kind in the UK. Squires took the supplement without realising that the powder contained DMAA and was unaware of the dangers. | When it banned the powdered supplement, the MHRA said it was the most popular of its kind in the UK. Squires took the supplement without realising that the powder contained DMAA and was unaware of the dangers. |
| The original formulation of the supplement was also available through a seller on the UK eBay site on Thursday morning. | The original formulation of the supplement was also available through a seller on the UK eBay site on Thursday morning. |
| "The fact it's banned now is very welcome. But the ban hasn't eliminated the supply. The difference now might be that if you go looking for it you're probably better informed than if you just pick it up off the shelf. This will hopefully alert people to the general risk that if you're using something that has a genuine physiological effect, you should be careful," said Graham Arthur, director of legal at UK Anti-Doping. | "The fact it's banned now is very welcome. But the ban hasn't eliminated the supply. The difference now might be that if you go looking for it you're probably better informed than if you just pick it up off the shelf. This will hopefully alert people to the general risk that if you're using something that has a genuine physiological effect, you should be careful," said Graham Arthur, director of legal at UK Anti-Doping. |
| The stimulant appears on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency, although only when detected "in competition". | The stimulant appears on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency, although only when detected "in competition". |
| When the supplement was banned last year it was hailed as a "significant step forward" by UK Anti-Doping, which has frequently warned of the dangers of buying supplements over the internet and over the counter that may not list all of their ingredients on the bottle. | When the supplement was banned last year it was hailed as a "significant step forward" by UK Anti-Doping, which has frequently warned of the dangers of buying supplements over the internet and over the counter that may not list all of their ingredients on the bottle. |
| A spokesman for eBay said it would take steps to remove any products from the site that contained DMAA. | A spokesman for eBay said it would take steps to remove any products from the site that contained DMAA. |
| "eBay does not permit the sale of banned substances including DMAA and we take steps to ensure listings for it are not allowed on our site. We will remove the listing you highlighted, and review it to ensure any further listings are not permitted," he said. | "eBay does not permit the sale of banned substances including DMAA and we take steps to ensure listings for it are not allowed on our site. We will remove the listing you highlighted, and review it to ensure any further listings are not permitted," he said. |
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