US: Unapproved "New Drug" (as defined by 21 U.S. Code § 321(p)(1)). Use in
dietary supplements,
food, or
medicine is unlawful; otherwise uncontrolled.[1]
Oxilofrine is currently a
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substance when used in competition.[4] It has been found as an
adulterant in some dietary supplements.[5][6] Even after receiving warning letters from the FDA,[7] some sports and weight loss supplement companies continue to use oxilofrine as an undeclared ingredient in their products despite it being prohibited.[8]
History
Oxilofrine was originally developed in the 1930s as a
cardiac stimulant. Trade names included Suprifen (
Bayer) and, combined with an
adenosine-containing standardized organ extract, Carnigen (
Hoechst AG).[5]
In combination with
normethadone, it was marketed as a
cough suppressant under the trade name Ticarda. As of 2021, this formulation was still manufactured in Canada by
Valeant and sold as Cophylac.[9]
Several other stimulants and
vasodilators were developed as chemical derivatives of oxilofrine, such as
buphenine.[10][11]
Society and culture
Several
doping cases involving oxilofrine have been publicized, including:
In 2009, Brazilian/American cyclist
Flávia Oliveira was suspended for 2 years after taking a supplement known as "HyperDrive 3.0+" which contained methylsynephrine, a chemical equivalent of oxilofrine, among other substances.[12] Her sentence was eventually reduced to 18 months after an appeal as there was enough evidence that she had unknowingly consumed said substance as the old label did not list methylsynephrine.[13]
On 18 September 2010, Vietnamese weightlifter
Hoàng Anh Tuấn, silver medalist in
2008 Summer Olympics was handed a four year ban, later reduced to two years, for testing positive with the substance. It was found out that the substance came from unlabeled drinks he consumed during his training in China.[14]
On July 14, 2013, Jamaican runners
Asafa Powell and
Sherone Simpson tested positive for oxilofrine prior to the
2013 World Athletics Championships.[15] Powell, however, maintained that he did not take any banned supplements knowingly or willfully.[16] Powell voluntarily withdrew as a result of the test. On 10 April 2014, both athletes received an 18-month suspension from competing, which was set to expire in December that year.[17] However, after appealing to the
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), both athletes' suspensions were lifted on 14 July 2014.[18]
On July 16, 2015,
Red Sox pitching prospect
Michael Kopech was suspended without pay for 50 games after testing positive for oxilofrine, which is a banned substance under the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Kopech denied knowingly taking the substance.[19]
In October 2018, the
WBO stripped boxer
Billy Joe Saunders of its middleweight world title after he tested positive for oxilofrine, as a result of a drug test administered by the
Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. In his defense, Saunders held that while the substance was proscribed by VADA it was not banned "out of competition" by
UK Anti-Doping, or the
British Boxing Board of Control, but this appeal was rejected.[20]
^Fourcroy JL (2008). Pharmacology, doping and sports: a scientific guide for athletes, coaches, physicians, scientists and administrators. Taylor & Francis.
ISBN978-0-415-42845-3.