Last week, Congress held two days of hearings concerning the use of Ephedra, the nutritional supplement found by a Florida coroner to have contributed to the Spring Training death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler.
During those hearings, the commissioner of the FDA announced that the agency was considering a ban the herbal supplement that reportedly helps individuals lose weight, even though a 1994 law might make that difficult. Most witnesses at the hearings called for tighter regulation of Ephedra, and nutritional supplements in general, while manufacturers of the supplement continued to insist that it is safe if used as directed.
As if on cue, the NFL announced that Denver Broncos safety Lee Flowers would be suspended for the first four games of the regular season after he tested positive for Ephedra. Buried deep inside the AP account was the fact that the Bronocs knew back in June that Flowers would be suspended -- making the timing of the announcement of his suspension in the midst of Congressional hearings all too convenient.
