NFL Might Add Ephedra to List of Banned Substances

The NFL, concerned for months about the effects of ephedra, is examining the possibility of adding the stimulant to its list of banned substances.

The league sent a memo to its 32 teams in December, warning players about the possible side effects of ephedra, an ingredient in several dietary supplements that are popular among high school and college athletes. Products containing the stimulant allegedly were used by three football players who died recently: Rashidi Wheeler of Northwestern, Devaughn Darling of Florida State and Curtis Jones, a defensive lineman for a Utah-based indoor football team.

“It will be looked at,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday of the possibility of banning ephedra, which already is outlawed by the International Olympic Committee and the NCAA. “We’ve had discussions about adding it to the list. The reason we haven’t so far is it’s not a performance-enhancing drug; it’s used for weight loss.”

Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told reporters at the New York Jets’ training camp Monday that the league and the players’ union have agreed to prohibit players from endorsing many dietary supplements.

If a company makes a product that includes something on the NFL’s list of banned substances, then players are not allowed to endorse anything that company sells.

“Even though [the supplements] are legally sold over the counter, we don’t want any endorsements,” Tagliabue said.

For several years, the league has disallowed any executive or team employee, such as a physician or athletic trainer, from endorsing supplements. But players have been allowed to augment their incomes with such endorsements, provided the product wasn’t a banned one.

Now, those rules have changed.

Among the players who will be affected are running backs Marshall Faulk of St. Louis and Edgerrin James of Indianapolis, both of whom endorse Xenadrine, an ephedra supplement. Touting Xenadrine is against the rules because the company that makes it, Cytodyne Technologies, also makes a product containing androstenedione, which is banned by the league.

“We are very comfortable with the way we’re informing our players,” NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said. “We take educating our players very seriously because we understand this affects their health. These supplements aren’t necessarily regulated, and that’s a concern.”