Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] B.C.A.A. Complex

As technology advances, it is sometimes difficult for law to keep up. 
For example it would be wonderful to be able to execute contracts on 
line electrically. However, our legal system is based on a signature. 
How does this translate to an "electronic signature."  This question was 
being discussed in the early '70's and even today, at least with the 
people I do business with, all contracts require a written signature by 
all parties. A fax is sufficient - if it is followed up with an original.

Since the drug rule was passed some 10 years ago, a lot has changed. At 
that time your local GNC needed to be only the size of a phone booth. 
Today they need to be large. The supplements companies have done a very 
good job of isolating and separating individual nutrients and bring 
those to market. Even some of the pharmaceutical companies are following 
this trend. Instead of eating a "well balanced meals," and hoping to get 
what we need - we as a society are taking nutrients "targeted" for 
specific reasons. Some may work and some are probably no more effective 
than a sugar pill. And to a large extent the medical community is 
supporting this. How many MD tell their healthy patents an aspirin a day 
is a good idea or maybe they should take about 400 IU of vit E, etc.

Similar trends are present in the equine world. The number of 
supplements that you see has exploded in the past 5 years - with little 
end in sight. Most of it is probably fueled by the human supplement 
industry. When the drug rule was passed the number of these "nutrients" 
was very small and hence there was little issue. The preamble to the 
drug rule is a wonderful statement of policy. But I think as time and 
tide as marched on, the environment that exist today is vastly different 
than that existed 10 years ago concerning what is a food product and 
what is a "drug." 

I remember the (what was probably the first) case under this new rule. 
It was a very well know rider who had no intention of breaking any 
rules.  They ended up using a homemade liniment that had DMSO in it in 
the Tevis. There was a huge controversy which played out on the pages of 
EN. From my  recollection, lawyers were bought in and it got somewhat 
nasty. All this over a liniment that probably that had absolutely no 
impact on performance. Thank goodness we didn't have Ridecamp back then. 

If a veteran endurance vet (who was on the AERC vet committee when he 
did this) tells a person that Adaquan is not a drug but a nutrient and 
they should time their Adaquan shots so they fall on the day before a 
ride, what does that say about the interpretation of the rule.  I've 
seen that happen. We accept some things that have been around for a long 
time - like Adaquan, Legend, etc., but not others that haven't. When if 
fact under a strict interpretation of rule 13 none should be allowed.

What is the new rider to think?  Yes, Jim, I think you are correct - the 
rule needs to be looked at. It needs to be enforced and it needs to be 
enforceable. Enforceability implies testability - hard evidence is 
required for enforcement. These are not easy issues but in my experience 
standing behind a set of simple sounding words and "wrapping yourself in 
the flag" to defend them solves little.

Since there has been random testing the past several years, I believe we 
have had a very small number of infractions of rule 13. That's the good 
news. If we can keep the stuff that reasonable people of differing 
opinions agree should not be used on an endurance ride and will show up 
in a test so it is actually enforceable, then we have a very good sport 
indeed.

Truman

T 

Jim Holland wrote:

> With regard to the "keep it simple" paranoia with regard to AERC rules,
> I would like to point out that the venerable Constitution of the United
> States has required numerous amendments to keep up with the times.
> (Granted that the on prohibition was somewhat misguided) <grin> IMHO,
> several AERC rules certainly could use some thoughtful "upgrades" to be
> more specific, given the advancements in technology and medicine. 
> JMO....
>
> Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic.




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