Some law-makers in Washington have been asking, how did “hidden steroids” get into bodybuilding supplements when the amended steroid law of 2004 was supposed to have solved the problem?  Supplement industry critic Senator Arlen Specter [D-PA] chaired a Senate subcommittee hearing last September (http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4081) to get some answers from DEA and FDA brass. The Senator appeared committed to solving the problem by reportedly working on a bill tentatively entitled the “Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2010.”  

But new developments may have changed things for him.  Sen. Specter has lost to Rep. Joe Stestak in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary election on May 18, so it’s unclear what impact he’ll have moving forward. If Senator Specter loses his seat, what will happen to the bill he was reportedly working on? Will it simply die a quiet death?

Maybe not. Among the special interests calling out for changes to the law are the sports drug testing organizations, such as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). USADA is highly focused on the problems of illegal steroidal compounds “masquerading” as dietary supplements and contaminated sports nutrition supplement products; it’s quite possible that even if Sen. Specter is no longer in Congress, USADA may look to another ally on the Hill to champion its agenda. Check back here for new developments.