Committee News Release
The Committee on Energy and Commerce
W.J. "Billy" Tauzin,  Chairman

Energy and Commerce Leaders Initiate Examination of Ephedra


WASHINGTON (February 28) -- Following the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler earlier this month, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI), along with other Committee leaders, today sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration expressing their concern about the adverse effects of dietary supplements containing ephedra.  The Committee members also informed Commissioner Mark McClellan of their intent to examine the safety issues surrounding the use of ephedra products.

In addition, the Committee also wrote a letter to the president of Cytodyne Technologies requesting information regarding their product Xenadrine RFA-1, which was the ephedra-containing supplement reportedly used by Bechler.

(Attached below are copies of the letters sent February 28 to FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan and Cytodyne Technologies president Robert Chinery.)


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Contact:  Ken Johnson
202.225.5735


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