Major League Baseball has issued a memo to its players warning of the “very real risk” of over-the-counter sexual enhancement pills leading to a positive test for banned substances. MLB sent the memo to major league and minor league players, which was also distributed by the MLB Players Association.
The pills, which are often sold at gas stations and convenience stores, can contain undeclared ingredients, so the players may not even realize that they have taken a banned substance. Some over-the-counter sexual enhancement drugs have been found to contain anabolic steroids and other performing enhancing drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned the public about using non-regulated male enhancement products in the past over the undeclared ingredients.
The use of the over-the-counter enhancement products is apparently prevalent among MLB players. According to reports, at least two players have blamed the pills for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The names of the two players have not been released. The league reminded players in the memo that they are subject to discipline should they test positive for banned substances.
The memo urged players “against taking any sexual or male enhancement product, from any source” and said that “the high likelihood for contamination or unidentified ingredients in these products underscores the importance of consuming only those products that are NSF Certified for Sport.” The memo also suggested that players who “suffer from erectile dysfunction or other legitimate issues related to sexual performance … speak to a licensed physician about the various prescription medications available to treat those conditions.”
