Dec. 19 - The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) banned the sale and distribution of food supplement Young Star because it contained anabolic steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Laboratory analyses carried out by the Inspection Authority established that the product contained an exceptionally high amount of this substance, specifically more than 13000 mg/kg. CAFIA experts had not yet encountered such a high content of steroids in a product.
Young Star sold in a package of 60 capsules is of American origin and was imported to the Czech Republic by the company Starlife, Hostivice. Since the food supplement was also intended for other Member States and third countries, the CAFIA sent information on this finding to the European Commission through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.
Preparations of a similar type, although they seem to be medical products, are classified by legislation as food supplements which must not contain anabolic steroids. Moreover, there must not be any health or preventive claims on the labels of food supplements.
Dehydroepiandrosterone found in Young Star is included in the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods of Doping which is part of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Inspection Authority informed the Czech Anti-Doping Committee of the finding of banned substance.
The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority has been performing inspections aimed at food supplements since 2005 and will keep paying increased attention to this commodity.