MLB warns sexual enhancers may include PEDs

Major League Baseball in a very real risk of over-the-counter-sexual enhancement pills after at least two players this year were suspended for performance-enhancing drugs and said the substances found in their urine came from the unregulated products, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

The use of over-the-counter pills, which are often sold at gas stations, is prevalent among baseball players, according to multiple sources. It prompted the league to send a message on Monday that outlines the risk of consuming non-NSF-certified supplements.

The memo, obtained by ESPN, warns that they are often contaminated with unsafe ingredients and are subject to discipline even if they inadvertently ingested a banned substance.

"NSF Certified for Sport", "the memo said," and the high likelihood of NSF Certified for Sport. "

In the memo, which has been sent to MLB Players Association, MLB suggests that players who "suffer from erectile dysfunction" a medical doctor about the various prescription medications (eg, Viagra, Levitra, Cialis) available to treat those conditions. "

Over-the-counter sexual-enhancement pills are part of the unregulated supplement industry, which is estimated to be worth more than $ 30 billion a year. The Food and Drug Administration in July added 10 products to a list of more than 250 tainted sexual-enhancement supplements. Former NBA star Lamar Odom fell into a coma after a significant dose of so-called "herbal Viagra," a sexual-enhancement pill.

"We know from experience," the league memo said, "that a number of these sexual or male enhancement products – which are sold online, at retail stores, and on the black market, both in the United States and internationally – contain anabolic steroids and other prohibited substances.

"For this reason," the memo continued, "we strongly urge players to take any sexual or male enhancement product, from any source."