Press release from Freedom Health LLC.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE PUT A QUESTION MARK IN THE SUBJECT LINE, AS THIS STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED BY A COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES A SUPPLEMENT WHICH, ACCORDING TO SOME SOURCES, HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE POSITIVES.
THE STUDY MAY BE 100% CORRECT, BUT TO REALLY BE ACCEPTED AS THE ANSWER TO THE AMINOREX MYSTERY, IT NEEDS TO BE INDEPENDENTLY DUPLICATED.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aminorex Racehorse Mystery Clarified
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Scott Carter, PhD
330-562-0888 ext. 107
scarter@freedomhealthllc.comAurora, OH (March 17, 2007) - Over the past 2 + years, racehorses
(principally Standardbreds) have tested positive for the amphetamine,
Aminorex. This drug is a Class 1 substance, where positives result in
a 1-5 year suspension from racing. Progressively, rumors have
circulated that certain products may incorporate an ingredient that is
not on the label, including Freedom Health's product: SUCCEED®
Digestive Conditioning Program® ["SUCCEED"]
Freedom Health employed a federally accredited analytical toxicology
laboratory to conduct independent, random sampling of SUCCEED and
analyze these samples using LC/MS/MS analytical procedures for the
presence of Aminorex. These LC/MS/MS procedures are the standard
procedures used by the federal government and racing commissions for
the detection of Aminorex in biological samples.
The LC/MS/MS analysis of random samples of SUCCEED, both oral paste
and granular forms, were NEGATIVE for the presence of Aminorex.
In an effort to further elucidate the reasons behind the rash of
Aminorex positives in the horse racing community, Freedom Health has
learned the following:
1. Using the same LC/MS/MS standard procedures for the detection of
Aminorex, when a commonly used over the counter anthelmetic,
injectable levamisole phosphate, is assayed directly from the original
container, the laboratory reported that it contains a substance that
has a similar molecular weight to Aminorex. However, it has a
different extraction time, which indicates that it is NOT Aminorex.
Other commercially available products, including the non-injectable
forms of levamisole, were NOT found to contain this same compound
using the same analytical LC/MS/MS procedures.
2. When horses were administered a variety of commercially available
wormers and urinalysis was conducted by the laboratory using LC/MS/MS
procedures for the detection of Aminorex, it reported that the
aforesaid compound was only detected in the urine of horses
administered injectable levamisole phosphate. Additionally, laboratory
results showed two other compounds were detected only in the urine of
horses administered injectable levamisole phosphate. These two
additional compounds have the same molecular weight as Aminorex, but
only one of these compounds had an identical extraction time to
Aminorex, indicating a potential positive result for detection of
Aminorex.
3. Using GC/MS analytical techniques to further elucidate the exact
chemical structure of this potential Aminorex compound, laboratory
analysis found that this compound was Aminorex.
4. Laboratory results indicate that the levels of Aminorex in urine
from horses administered injectable levamisole phosphate parallel
those reported in past and current positive results as handed down by
racing authorities.
To summarize, the laboratory results indicate that in our study ONLY
the horses receiving the injectable levamisole phosphate product,
either orally or intramuscularly, resulted in an Aminorex positive
result. Aminorex was NOT found in the product itself, only in the
urine of treated horses after administration of this product, and
never in the urine of horses receiving other anthelmetic products.
John Hall, President and CEO of Freedom Health LLC said "It was vital
that we not only exonerate SUCCEED, but also that we determine the
true cause of these positives to dispel any residual innuendoes. Dr.
Franklin L. Pellegrini, Vice-President of Veterinary Affairs, has
combined his investigatory analyses of the past two years with the
independent analysis of one of the most highly regarded analytical
toxicology teams in the country to finally resolve this conundrum:
Petra G. Hartmann, Director, Drug Testing Services, and her colleagues
at The Industrial Laboratories Company Inc. On February 1, 2007, we
invited Ohio State Racing Commission to monitor this independent
analysis before we commenced. After due consideration at the highest
levels, they declined on February 5."
Dr. Frank Pellegrini said "Friends, colleagues and erstwhile clients
have sought my help when caught in the Aminorex test "trap". It has
made absolutely no sense that reputable trainers would deliberately
use a Class 1 substance, where the recommended penalty effectively
results in a loss of livelihood; much less continue to do so when a
valid test exists for this drug. For two years, I have attempted to
identify a common thread. My investigations became more urgent as
progressive rumors circulated that SUCCEED could be the culprit.
Finally, in January, I believed I had identified this common factor.
It then became imperative that any testing be independent, by the most
capable team in the United States. I therefore approached Petra
Hartmann with my concerns, and asked that she test SUCCEED, and my
suspect materials. I chose The Industrial Laboratories Inc., because
Ms. Hartmann is the vice-chair of the Association of Racing
Commissioners International Testing Integrity Program. We received the
final report today. I am delighted that we can be a part of resolving
this matter for the overall benefit of horse racing in both the USA
and Canada."
