By Kris Ohashi
The recent deaths of two professional athletes stemming from supplement use have triggered concerns in the Canadian sporting community.
“People like to have that extra edge to try and get over the hump,” says Brendan Bell, a defenceman for the Ottawa 67’s.
“They just want to do whatever they can to make it to the top. Especially when guys are so close to making it and have been in the minors for a while.”
Baltimore Oriole’s pitcher Steve Bechler, 23, died Feb. 17, a day after suffering heatstroke while working out at the Oriole’s spring training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The tragedy comes 18 months after Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer died under similar circumstances during his NFL team’s training camp.
Toxicology reports have revealed that the deaths of Bechler and Stringer were both linked to the use of an over-the-counter weight-loss drug containing the stimulant Ephedrine, often used to assist with weight-loss and provide energy boosts.
Bechler’s death has also been attributed to an untreated liver problem.
Paul Melia, CEO of the Ottawa-based Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, says a greater effort needs to be made to discourage supplement use by professional athletes.
“I think they should have the same restrictions as amateur athletes,” he says.
“We don’t have professional athletes practising sport the way that they should be. They’re not always playing on a level playing field, and if you add to that the issue of health concerns when using supplements, it makes it sort of a double-whammy.”
Bell, 19, says he previously used Creatine, a muscle-growth enhancing supplement, but stopped in preparation for the recent World Junior Championships.
He says that while he no longer uses any supplements himself, not all of them should be banned from professional sport.
“When you see an athlete die because of supplements – you don’t want to see things like that,” he says.
“But he (Bechler) had a liver condition and he should’ve known that there were potential problems. I think all of the dangerous ones (supplements) which can lead to health problems should be banned, but not all supplements need to be.
“Ephedrine isn’t harmful when taken in moderation. A case like this is pretty borderline.”
Teammate Adam Smyth agrees.
“The ones that are potentially dangerous shouldn’t be allowed,” he says.
“Those are the ones that should be looked at, that’s what causes the problems.”
In response to Stringer’s death, the NFL banned the use of Ephedrine, however Major League Baseball has failed to follow suit, awaiting an examination of the issue by its players association.
Minor League Baseball has banned the use of Ephedrine, prohibiting all minor leaguers not on Major League 40-man rosters from using the controversial stimulant.
A third-round draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bell says supplements are prevalent, but not provided at NHL training camps.
“I had to bring my own stuff and I know a lot of the other guys did the same,” he says.
“It’s not ever promoted by coaches or anything though. Players make their own decisions when it comes to using supplements.”
Melia says supplement use in professional sports is a more pressing issue in North America than in other parts of the world and adds that changes are necessary.
“Many professional athletes are part of international federations like in tennis and soccer and these federations ban the use of supplements,” he says.
“I think professional sports like hockey and baseball are lagging behind though, and I think it’s important that the NHL and Major League Baseball make efforts to change that.”