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<TD vAlign=top align=middle><B>UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN
3rd DISTRICT, NEBRASKA</B> </TD></TR>
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<TD align=middle><B>TOM OSBORNE</B></TD></TR>
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<TD><B>For Immediate Release</B></TD>
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<TD align=right><B>Contact: Kelly Sokol</B> </TD>
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<TD><B>Wednesday, January 8, 2003</B></TD>
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<TD align=right><B>(202) 225-6435</B> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Rep. Tom Osborne Introduces Legislation to <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Washington, D.C.— This week, Representative Tom Osborne (NE-03) was joined by Rep. John Sweeney (NY-22) in reintroducing legislation that would allow the U.S. Attorney General to list performance-enhancing drugs as controlled substances, thereby making over-the-counter sales of such substances illegal. Steroid precursors are defined as substances that once ingested metabolize into anabolic steroids.</SPAN>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Osborne stated,
“These substances have the same effects and dangers as steroids.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And, their side effects pose far greater risks for young people than they do for adults.”</SPAN>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Currently, a number of steroid precursors are being aggressively marketed as steroid equivalents by dietary supplement manufacturers. The most popular of these steroid precursors include the andros (androstenedione and androstenediol) and the 19-nors (19-norandrostenedione and 19-norandrostenediol).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The manufacturers of these precursors market them based on their molecular proximity to anabolic steroids and a promise that they will magically grow muscles.</SPAN>
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“Young athletes are dazzled by flashy ads and feel pressured to look for ways they can boost their performance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Too often, there’s the perception that other athletes are on the substances and that they must be too in order to compete on a level playing field,” Rep. Osborne said.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>
“How can we combat this pervasive trend harming our young athletes?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A key step is recognizing what steroid precursors really are and reclassifying these dangerous substances.”</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>This is the bill having to be reintroduced since from my recollection of the legislative process. Once a session ends a bill dies where it is if it does not reach the floor to be voted on. If the bill was still in committee it will have to be reintroduced this term and go through the same process again before it can make it to the floor of the house and once the house votes on it the senate will have to do the same. Then from there the president will have to sign it for it to become law and he can always veto. Just a heads up for you guys.