House passes bill to crack down on anabolic steroids

The House on Monday passed legislation that would expand the types of muscle-enhancing anabolic steroids subject to federal regulation.

Passed by voice vote, the measure would add 25 new substances to the list of anabolic steroids regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additionally, false labeling of anabolic steroids would be subject to a penalty of up to $500,000 per violation.

{mosads}The bill, titled the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act (DASCA), would further authorize the attorney general to issue a permanent order to add a substance to its definition of anabolic steroids.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), the bill’s sponsor, said it would prevent manufacturers from selling supposed all-natural muscle enhancers that are actually just modified chemical versions of existing steroids. 

“DASCA will protect consumers from these harmful products by giving the DEA the tools and authority to classify designer steroids as controlled substances,” Pitts said.

Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) said the measure would help keep unsafe drugs out of public consumption.

“H.R. 4771 will go a long way to removing dangerous steroids from the market,” Christensen said.