The International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation

WHAT IS DRUG FREE?

NEWS UPDATE (Effective 6/1/07):
7-KETO DHEA TAKEN OFF INBF BANNED SUBSTANCES LIST!

For the FIRST TIME EVER, a compound has been TAKEN OFF the INBF Banned Substances List. The compound in question is the fat-burning supplement 7-Keto DHEA (also known as 7-OXO DHEA), and it will be allowed for use by INBF members as of June 1, 2007.

The INBF's professional affiliate, the WNBF, has been doing independent research on supplements since its inception in 1990, in order to help natural athletes avoid compounds that are dangerous, ineffective, illegal or all three. Steroids have always been on the banned list, and when prohormones became a problem due to athletes failing urine tests for "legal supplements," the WNBF became the first sports federation to ban their use. This was in 1999. It took the FDA and U.S. Federal Government six years to validate the WNBF stance, when they banned androstenedione, norandro and other prohormonal products for sale. Of course, the INBF (and also the NANBF and all other WNBF amateur affiliates) followed the same rulings as the WNBF.

The ruling in the WNBF (and INBF by extension) extended to all compounds with prohormonal tendencies, including DHEA, androstenetrione, A7-E and all others. This also included 7-Keto DHEA.

HOWEVER, since March 2006 the WNBF has been doing additional investigation into the safety, fat-burning efficacy and possible steroidal tendencies of 7-Keto. After over a year of review of studies submitted by the Humanetics Corporation to the FDA and State of California, as well as research by the government of Australia and independent research in the scientific community, the WNBF has determined 7-Keto DHEA will be REMOVED from the Banned Substances List. As a result, 7-Keto DHEA is ALSO REMOVED FROM THE BANNED SUBSTANCES LIST OF THE INBF.

This is due to the following reasons:

1.) The FDA has ruled on two occasions in response to applications by Humanetics, Inc., that 7-Keto DHEA is safe for consumers when used for fat-loss.

2.) Safety rulings by the State of California and the Australian Government Dept. of Health and Ageing, Office of Chemical Safety also ruled the compound as safe.

3.) The Australian Government Dept. of Health and Ageing, Office of Chemical Safety ruled in March 2007 that "Data from published literature establishes that whilst structurally related to DHEA and testosterone, 7-Keto DHEA does not have biological action at the androgen receptor. Thus this substance is not expected to produce an androgenic effect."

4.) Review of clinical research by Humanetics Medical Director Dr. Zenk shows that 7-Keto DHEA is introduced to the Metabolic Pathway in the body beyond DHEA, and does not trigger androstenedione or androstenediol production in the body. It occupies a "metabolic dead end" that doesn't cause anabolism in the body. Therefore, 7-Keto DHEA does not cause anabolic changes, nor will it trigger a urine test failure.

Dr. Zenk explains that 7-Keto DHEA triggers fat loss by a means other than increasing norepinepherine production (as does ephedra, caffeine, etc.). It instead activates three thermogenic enzymes that are required for fatty acid metabolism. By activating Acetyl CoA (a sustrate in the Krebs cycle), 7-Keto assists the body in metabolizing fatty acids, which spurs safe weight (fat) loss. 7-Keto declines with age, and is excreted in the urine. It has been studied as a weight-loss compound for more than 16 years and is non-toxic, non-anabolic and without any serious side effects.

As a result of the research presented to the INBF and studied by its INBF Amateur Executive Committee and its supplement advisors, the federation has ruled that 7-Keto DHEA is allowable for use.

HOWEVER, this ruling applies to 7-Keto DHEA (aka 7-OXO DHEA) ONLY. The fat-burning compounds sold as A7-D and A7-E (including Hot Rox and Fahrenheit) are NOT allowed in the INBF, nor are any that contain "etiochollonane" or "etiocholene" or other HORMONAL COMPOUNDS.

As always, it is up to INBF members to carefully investigate their supplement products BEFORE USING THEM. Failure to do so (which results in the use of a banned substance) will still be cause for failure and expulsion from the INBF.

– Steve Downs, C.S.C.S.
INBF Vice-President

WHEN IT COMES TO BEING TRULY "DRUG-FREE," NOT ALL BODYBUILDING FEDERATIONS ARE ALIKE

By Steve Downs, INBF Vice-President

For several decades, the term "Natural Bodybuilding" has been bandied about to describe numerous actual descriptions of drug-free competitions. These range from one-year off drugs to natural-for-life. But it's not just the time element that's critical, but what is actually BANNED by natural federations. Quasi-supplements such as prohormones, pro-steroids, anti-estrogenics, thermogenic aids and hormonal products straddle the line between an "anything goes" mentality and drug-tested sports. And their use is clearly the determining factor you should consider when choosing your contests and federation(s).

The INBF has, since 1999, banned all prohormones. Each year, new products are added to this list as they come out. Our philosophy (which is reflected by the amateur NANBF and pro WNBF) is that any product that is hormonal in nature is deemed illegal. This includes any of the products that contain pharmaceutical ingredients of hormones found within the pregnenalone-to-testosterone metabolic pathway in the body. These include, obviously, androstene, androstendione, androdiol, norandro and even DHEA. Cometitors must also be cognizent of the "name game" in the supplement industry that includes the chemical name for androstene (which is etiocholene or etiochollonane, etc.) in place of the more recognized real name. Any competitor should recognize androstene (and, therefore, etiocholane) as being prohormonal.

To be careful, choose your federation based on the strictest Banned Substances List. Remember, just because a product works isn't a reason why it should be legal to use (as in A7-E, androstenetrione, etc.). If that was the case, you might as well just use steroids! (But please DON'T.)

That said, remember that the INBF tests for a 7-years-natural requirement, and ALL athletes are tested at every show via polygraph. And for all pro-qualifiers for the WNBF, any eligible competitor (class winner or overall, depending on the event) is also urine-tested. Please check out the 2007 INBF Banned Substances List below to find out just how NATURAL the INBF really is! And if you have a question regarding a supplement or its ingredient

EPHEDRA STILL BANNED BY INBF (AND FDA)
By Steve Downs, INBF Vice-President

For the record, despite all the news over the course of 2004 to 2006 about the FDA ban on ephedra being overturned via court action in Colorado, ephedra is still officially banned by the FDA. During the summer of 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver reversed a 2004 District Court ruling, and upheld the FDA’s ruling that ephedrine supplements are illegal.

Interestingly enough, not much has been made in the traditional media – nor on bodybuilding websites or forums – about the FDA ban being upheld. A U.S. District Court judge in Salt Lake City originally ruled in favor of Nutraceuticals International Corp. in their lawsuit against the FDA ban on low-dose ephedra products in 2004, but the FDA didn't back down on its ban nationally. With the help of Sherrif's Departments in states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia, the FDA continued to raid manufacturers and distributors of ephedra alkaloids and seize millions of dollars in products. And with the most recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals to uphold the ban, the controversial fat-burner should soon disappear from the market completely.

Please note, however, that some companies continue to sell ephedra alkaloids via "no-doze" type supplements in an effort to sidestep the FDA ban. Nonetheless, these products are NOT legal for use as dietary weight loss supplements, and are BANNED from use in the INBF (and its amateur NANBF affiliate and Pro Natural WNBF affiliate).

Bottom line: Ephedra was banned by the INBF as of July 1, 2004, and is STILL BANNED by the INBF (as well as WNBF and NANBF). It is a dangerous and illegal stimulant product. Stay away from it!

2007 LIST OF INBF BANNED SUBSTANCES

(Effective 1/1/07)

The following substances and related compounds are banned by the International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (INBF) and their use constitutes grounds for dismissal from INBF Competitions and suspension from membership privileges in the organization for a period of seven years from the failure date. This list is effective January 1, 2007.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS. All Anabolic Steroids, including but not limited to bolasterone, boldenone, chioroxomesterone (dyhdrochlormethyltesterone), clostebol, fluoxymesterone, mesterolone, methandienone, methyltestosterone, nandrolone, norethandrolone, oxandrolone, oxymetholone, stanozolol, testosterone and all other related compounds, are strictly banned.

TESTOSTERONE (injections, patches, gels) in any form or for any reason, even if under a doctor’s prescription.

TESTOSTERONE/EPITESTOSTERONE RATIO. The T/E ratio is used to measure the presence of exogenous testosterone, or illicit elevation of testosterone levels. A T/E ratio in excess of 6/1 is ruled as positive, no matter what the cause. Note: Should the use of any substance cause an elevated T/E ratio in excess of the 6/1 limit, the athlete will be ruled as positive (failure).

GROWTH HORMONES (PHARMACEUTICAL HGH, HCG and any other related compounds). Oral, spray or sublingual GH compounds of pharmaceutical origin are banned effective January 1, 2001.

HORMONES, PROHORMONES AND ALL PRECURSORS & METABOLITES, DERIVATIVES & RELATED COMPOUNDS. The use of any hormone (injectable, oral, sublingual or otherwise) for bodybuilding purposes – including insulin – is prohibited.

•All hormonal precursors (DHEA, androstenedione; 19-norandrostenedione; androstenediol; 5-AD; 7-KetoDHEA; androstene-TRIONE; 17-androdione; etc.) are banned effective January 1, 2000. (Includes Novadex, Superdrol, Halodrol, Methyl-1, etc.)

•All other additional hormonal supplements (6-OXO; 6-OXO-androstenetrione; 2a,17a-dimethyl-17ß-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one; 3, 17-keto-etiochol-triene; 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione; 3-Alpha (5a-androstane-3a,17b-diol); etc.) have been identified as prohormonal in nature as of January 1, 2004, and are banned effective January 1, 2004. (Includes Novadex, Superdrol, Halodrol, Methyl-1, Forza-T, etc.)

•Fat-Burning Prohormone Derivatives such as 3,17-dihydroxy-delta-5-etiocholane-7-one (A7-D), and 3,17-dihydroxy-delta-5-etiocholane-7-one diethylcarbonate (A7-E) are banned effective January 1, 2007. (Includes Hot Rox, Fahrenheit, etc.)

NOTE: The compound 7-Keto DHEA is no longer banned for use effective 6/1/07.

•Pro-Steroids are banned as of January 1, 2000. They are marketed as not being prohormonal, but they ARE. (Includes 1-Test, etc.)

•Prescription Thyroid Hormone Medication when used for bodybuilding purposes is banned.

•The presence of any banned substance in the urine (i.e., nandrolone, etc.), no matter how it arrived, is ruled as a positive (failure).

NOTE: Any athtletes who are NEW to the INBF, MUST NOT HAVE USED ANY PROHORMONES for AT LEAST TWO (2) YEARS before joining the INBF for the FIRST TIME!

NOTE: BE SURE TO CHECK ALL INGREDIENTS LISTS OF SUPPLEMENTS BEFORE USING THEM! (E-mail questions to inbf@epix.net.)

PRESCRIPTION DIURETICS. Any and all prescription weight-loss substances and diuretics used for bodybuilding purposes, even when physician-prescribed, are banned by the INBF.

EPHEDRINE, EPHEDRA AND ALL RELATED COMPOUNDS are banned effective July 1, 2004.

NOTE: Any athtletes who are NEW to the INBF MUST NOT HAVE USED EPHEDRA for AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS before joining the INBF for the FIRST TIME!

PSYCHOMOTOR STIMULANTS such as amphetamines, speed, cocaine or other stimulants when used for bodybuilding purposes.

MUSCLE IMPLANTS OF ANY KIND are strictly prohibited. BREAST IMPLANTS for females are not banned.

CHEMICALS/DRUGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECEIVING OR PASSING THE POLYGRAPH OR URINE TEST.

CLENBUTEROL AND GHB (since 1992).

ANY ILLEGAL OR ILLICIT BODYBUILDING DRUG OR SUBSTANCE AS DECREED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

ANY FDA-BANNED SUBSTANCE, EXCEPT IF SPECIFICALLY OTHERWISE INDICATED.

ANY IOC- OR WADA-BANNED SUBSTANCE, EXCEPT IF SPECIFICALLY OTHERWISE INDICATED.

DRUG FREE Q&A

Mr. Downs:

I am a natural bodybuilder in NY. I am curious to the status of Ephedra use in the INBF.  I read that the ban has been lifted by the FDA as of 4/11/05. But why doesn't the INBF allow competitors to use Ephedra? I currently am not, but have used the substance in the past. I truly believe that the substance helps the bigger boned or endomorph bodybuilder to slim down without losing muscle. I appreciate any comments or help you might offer. Thank you for your time.

– Joshua

Joshua:

Please note the ruling information above regarding the background on the FDA ban on ephedra, as well as the long-standing INBF ban (since 2004). This will give you all the information you need to see that the FDA still bans ephedra use, and that the INBF complies with this ruling by also banning ephedra and ephedra alkaloids, and any product(s) that contains the compound.

Fortunately, there are promising fat-burning alternatives. The most exciting legal (non-hormonal and non-ephedra) products we've seen of late help reduce bodyfat by blocking cortisol production within the localized areas of the body.

There are others that attempt to speed up the metabolism, such as synephrine (a legal alternative to ephedrine), as well as ones that inhibit the enzymes used to actually store fat on your body, including Citrimax (hydroxycitrict acid), gymnema and chromium picolinate. Also, CLA and green tea have also been shown to enhance fat metabolism.

And due to the ruling stated above, 7-Keto DHEA is now allowed for use in the INBF as a fat-burning compound.

Best of all, all of these are not only effective, but also legal (non-ephedra and non-hormonal).

Good luck!
Steve Downs
INBF Vice-President

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