The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has recently warned all Australian athletes and coaches about the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, following a spate of positive doping tests both in Australia and overseas. Methylhexaneamine was added to the WADA banned substance list in 2010.
AIS Sports Nutrition has compiled the following advice in relation to this substance:-
Historically, Methylhexaneamine has been used in nasal decongestant sprays, however because of its stimulant effects, it is increasingly being found in nutritional supplements. Methylhexaneamine may be identified on labels as one of the following:
- Methylhexaneamine — Forthan — 2-hexanamine 4-methyl-
- Methylhexanamine —Floradrene — 2-hexanamine, 4-methyl- (9CI)
- DMAA — 4-methyl-2-hexanamine — 1,3-dimethylamylamine
- Geranamine — 4-Methylhexan-2-amine – 1, 3-dimethylpentylamine
- Forthane — 2-amino-4-methylhexane — Pentylamine, 1, 3-dimethyl-
Methylhexaneamine is also a component of geranium oil. Therefore, it may also be listed on supplement labels / ingredients lists as:
- Flower oil extract (geranium)
- Geranium oil extract
Methylhexaneamine is often combined with caffeine in nutritional supplements to promote a stimulant and thermogenic effect. This is most likely to occur in two types of products:
- Weight loss supplements (i.e. drink powders / pills which are promoted to enhance fat or weight loss). These supplements often used to contain ephedra, which is also listed on the WADA banned substance list.
- Pre-exercise ‘stimulant’ supplements – frequently promoted and sold within body building circles as a pre-exercise ‘boost’ to enhance training.
These products are for sale over the counter in Australia and can be readily obtained over the internet.
Athletes should be aware of the potential risks involved in taking any nutritional supplement and note that under the World Anti-Doping Code strict liability principle, athletes are ultimately responsible for any substance found in their body. This means that even if a failed drug test results from a mistake or a contaminated supplement, the athlete is still at fault.
It is important for all athletes to carefully check the ingredients list of any nutritional supplement, and if unsure check with their sports doctor, sports dietitian or with ASADA.
News Release
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is advising all Australian athletes subject to in-competition doping control to carefully consider their use of supplements and products containing methylhexaneamine.
What is methylhexaneamine?
This substance is classed as an S6 stimulant on the Prohibited List and is prohibited
in-competition.
Bans involving this substance can range up to two-years.
Recent developments
Over the past two years, there has been increasing evidence that methylhexaneamine is present in supplements and other products.
This year methylhexaneamine has been the subject of a number of reported doping cases involving Indian and Nigerian athletes, as well as a US swimmer receiving a suspension.
Last year Jamaican athletes Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Allodin Fothergill and Lansford Spence were suspended for three-months after each returned positive tests for methylhexaneamine from samples taken during the Jamaica National Track and Field Championships.
ASADA is also investigating a number of positive test results to methylhexaneamine by Australian athletes.
What you need to do
Athletes need to be aware that, under the policy of strict liability, they are responsible for any substance found in their body. Athletes using supplements do so at their own risk and, because of supplement manufacturing processes can lead to their contents varying from batch to batch, ASADA can not advise if supplements contain prohibited substances.
Athletes need to be very careful not to use any supplement or product that contains any of the following identifiers on the label:
| Identifiers |
| Methylhexaneamine |
Forthan |
2-hexanamine, 4-methyl- |
| Methylhexanamine |
Floradrene |
2-hexanamine, 4-methyl- (9CI) |
| DMAA |
4-methyl-2-hexanamine |
1,3-dimethylamylamine |
| Geranamine |
4-Methylhexan-2-amine |
1,3-dimethylpentylamine |
| Forthane |
2-amino-4-methylhexane |
Pentylamine, 1, 3-dimethyl- |
Further information regarding substances and supplements can be found on the ASADA website.
Delegates to the Orienteering Australia Annual Conference on Saturday 4 December were treated to an informative, interesting and challenging presentation by Andrew Collins, Director of Sports Planning and Performance at the Australian Sports Commission. Collins, who has recently competed in Adventure Racing and orienteering events in Canberra, outlined the major changes that had occurred in Australian Sport over the last 18 months. These included sport system strategic shifts from just sport outcomes to broader policy objectives, from National Sporting Organisations being grant beneficiaries to system partners, from a high performance focus to whole of pathway planning, and from competition among Federal-state programs and relations to cooperation.
Frazzle Rock Carnival Update — Easter 2011