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    Congratulating Brendan Barrett On His Recent “Ring Of Combat” Heavyweight Title Win…

    Reflections From Brendan On His Win … And What’s Next! On April 5th, in an exciting 33 second knockout, “Brutal” Brendan Barrett won the prestigious Ring of Combat Heavywei [...]

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Posts by Rick Collins

As CMG Heads To The 2013 Arnold Sports Festival, We’re Proud To Once Again Be Part Of The Largest Multi-Sport Event In The Nation

Feb28th
2013
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins
Photo by: by David Heasley

Photo by: by David Heasley

For the 11th consecutive year, Collins, McDonald & Gann will be playing a major role at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio (www.arnoldsportsfestival.com) – which has grown to be the largest multi-sport event in the nation.  The event, which attracts more than 175,000 fitness enthusiasts and industry professionals each year, is marking an important milestone this year – as The Arnold Classic celebrates its 25th Anniversary by honoring all former past winners of the men’s professional bodybuilding championships named in honor of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the sport’s greatest champion.  The 2013 Arnold Sports Festival is taking place this year from February 28th through March 3rd .

Once again, CMG is sponsoring the Arnold Amateur competitions – where CMG partner Rick Collins (a former competitive bodybuilder himself) will be presenting awards and handing out trophies for a number of the competitions, both at Veterans Memorial and on the Expo Stage.  Joining him in the presentation of awards this year will be new associate Katie Weitzman, attending The Arnold for the first time this year, and presenting awards in the Master Women’s Fitness category.  As in previous years, in addition to sponsoring the amateur contests, CMG will also be sponsoring the Arm Wrestling Competition – noted to be the premier arm sport event in the world.

We’re excited to once again be playing an important role at this major event and are looking forward to meeting with fellow fitness enthusiasts throughout the country who gather each year to experience thrilling moments of sports competition and fitness entertainment.  In addition to the competitions, the event also gives attendees the opportunity to experience the Arnold Fitness EXPO – where more than 700 booths will showcase the biggest names in health and fitness presenting the latest trends in fitness apparel, supplements and training equipment.

Throughout the weekend, we’re looking forward to meeting with clients and others in the industry (including readers of Rick’s Muscular Development column)  – and welcome the opportunity to meet with all those attending.  Please seek us out to say hello – we’d love to talk to you about some of today’s key issues in the health/fitness industry.  With so many new and continuing developments in the health/sports/fitness arena, we have some important insight in this area – and would love to meet with you.

We extend our best wishes to all of the athletes competing at this year’s events and wish all of the competitors good luck.  Again, with our personal experience in the world of bodybuilding and fitness, we know first-hand of the demands of this competitive sport — and we greatly admire and respect each participant in this year’s events.

Check back on our website and Facebook pages for photos and updates from this year’s 2013 Arnold Sports Festival – we’ll be sure to keep you updated with news from this year’s competitive  events …  as well as other important information in the health/fitness/supplement industry!

For more information about the 2013 Arnold Sports Festival, including a complete schedule of all events and competitions, visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

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Sports Nutrition
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Rick Collins now a blogger for Huffington Post: Oscar Pistorius and a Case of Mistaken Assumptions

Feb27th
2013
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

hufpostWhen a high-profile athlete commits an act of tragic violence, thoughts quickly turn to the possibility that steroid-induced rage was the cause. Such was the kneejerk assumption of media pundits regarding the double murder and suicide of former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, and many still believe it, notwithstanding evidence of massive alcohol consumption and the degenerative brain condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (which can cause confusion, impaired judgment, paranoia, poor impulse control, aggression, depression, memory loss and dementia). In the murder case against “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius for the death of law graduate and model Reeva Steenkamp, the “roid rage” assumption received initial validation by reports that “boxes and boxes” of anabolic steroids and hypodermic syringes were found in his bedroom at the scene of the crime.

Identifying a simple, solitary cause for incomprehensible brutality may be both easier for journalists to report and more comforting for the public to accept than that the roots of such behavior lie in the human heart. But it doesn’t make it true. Research suggests an association between steroids and aggression, but that doesn’t mean a cause and effect relationship exists. The notion that anabolic steroid use typically induces uncontrollable fits of rage is a myth. Like many myths, it has a kernel of truth at its core but has been distorted into something having little to do with fact. The vast, overwhelming majority of anabolic steroid users aren’t committing murder and mayhem. Studies administering moderate dosages of the substances have resulted in no discernible psychiatric problems. While in a very small percentage of possibly “predisposed” individuals, steroids can lead to varying psychiatric symptoms, the appearance of these symptoms is generally correlated to dosage (1,000 mg. per week) and may also be rooted in previous mental illness or abuse of other drugs. While it’s convenient to assume simple explanations for unfathomable conduct, the truth is that human behavior is extremely complicated and rarely, if ever, can it be simplified down to a single causal factor.

Read the full post at the Huffington Post>

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Sports Nutrition
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Back to Business Post-Sandy

Nov6th
2012
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

We are back to work this week, and it is almost business as usual. As you are aware, Superstorm Sandy hit New York and New Jersey last week, leaving many communities and homes destroyed, and thousands without power.  From the gas shortages and the power outages to extreme flooding, our office’s location on Long Island has made it impossible to escape the storm’s aftermath. While we are fortunate to have power and cable back in the office, our three partners have yet to have the power restored in their homes. And it just keeps getting colder…

Sandy also slammed local businesses, with many losing thousands of dollars in business each day in addition to destroyed equipment.  If you are a small business in need of assistance, check out the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) website for comprehensive disaster recovery services here.

The attorneys in our firm are also working with the Nassau County Bar Association’s WE CARE Fund to determine how the local legal community can assist residents and businesses in picking up the pieces and getting back to normal.

For a comprehensive list of legal resources to assist in your personal recovery, check out the New York Legal Help website here.

Stay safe everyone!  And please don’t hesitate to call us if we can be of legal assistance.

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Uncategorized    Legal, Recovery, Resources, Sandy
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CRN & NAD Team Up To Challenge Substantiation of Sports Nutrition Product

Aug21st
2012
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

“Puffery” Rejected and Substantiation Demanded

Earlier this month, the National Advertising Division (NAD), in conjunction with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), recommended that a dietary supplement company discontinue its advertising claims for one of its products after seeing claims advertising it as an alternative to steroids.  CRN chose to challenge the claims made by the manufacturer through the self-regulatory process of NAD review.  Noting strong claims such as increased muscle mass and strength, the NAD questioned how the company could be marketing a legal nutritional supplement using claims associated with anabolic steroids and recommended that the company remove a majority of those promotional claims.

Though disagreeing with CRN and NAD, and pointing out that because a compound may be anabolic does not mean it is an anabolic steroid, the company chose to comply with NAD’s request and remove a number of their product claims. READ MORE »

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Marketing and Advertising    Council for Responsible Nutrition, CRN, NAD, National Advertising Division
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The New Designer Steroid Bill and YOU: Questions and Answers with Rick Collins

Aug2nd
2012
3 Comments Written by Rick Collins

Q: What is the “2012 Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act Draft Bill”?

A: It’s a Senate Bill (SB 3431) introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and referred to the Judiciary Committee.  If passed by Congress, it will amend the Controlled Substances Act to more aggressively regulate steroidal substances being sold as dietary supplement ingredients.  The clear intent is to remove remaining “prohormone” products from the market and prevent new ones from being introduced.  The bill would take such past or present supplement products as ATD, 6-oxo, 6-bromo, Furazadrol, Halodrol, Havoc, and Tren and legally classify them as anabolic steroids and Controlled Substances.  Here’s what Sen. Whitehouse said in introducing the bill on July 25th, 2012:

“… I am pleased to join Senator Hatch in introducing the bipartisan Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2012. This measure will help keep American children and families safe from dangerous designer drugs that masquerade as healthy dietary supplements. This legislation is based on Senator Specter’s work in the previous Congress, and I thank him for his leadership on this issue.

Doctors and scientists have long recognized the health hazards of non-medical use of anabolic steroids. For that reason, Congress has previously acted to ensure that these drugs are listed as controlled substances. Nonetheless, according to investigative reporting and Congressional testimony, a loophole in current law allows for designer anabolic steroids to easily be found on the Internet, in gyms, and even in retail stores. READ MORE »

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Dietary Supplements, Regulatory, Sports Nutrition, Steroids    2012 Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act Draft Bill, 6-bromo, 6-oxo, ATD, Controlled Substances, Furazadrol, Halodrol, Havoc, Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), SB 3431, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tren
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The Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2012: The end of the “Prohormone Era”?

Jul26th
2012
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse have just introduced2012 Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act. The bill is apparently intended to address any and all prohormone products that remain on the market. The bill appears to not only add an additional 27 substances to the list of Scheduled Anabolic Steroids, but it expands on the definition of anabolic steroid from the original 1990 Act to include steroidal substances not on the list, even those that are “intended to be marketed” to promote muscle growth, regardless of whether or not they actually build muscle. Stay tuned for commentary on the legislation and the effect it will have on the dietary supplement industry if it becomes law.

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Dietary Supplements, Regulatory, Sports Nutrition, Steroids    2012 Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, SB 3431, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
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Continuing Our Leadership Role in the Sports/Fitness Arena… As We Head To The Arnold Classic for Our 10th Year

Feb28th
2012
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

This coming weekend, CMG will once again have a major presence at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio – as we continue our tradition of sponsorship for this event that has  become the largest multi-sport event in the nation.  For the tenth consecutive year, CMG will proudly be in attendance at “The Arnold”  (which takes place from March 1st – 4th ) – where more than  175,000 fitness enthusiasts will gather to experience thrilling moments of sports competition and fitness entertainment.  In addition, attendees at this major event will also have the chance to experience the 700-booth Arnold Fitness EXPO offering the biggest names in health & fitness who present the latest trends in fitness apparel, supplements, and training equipment.

Once again, CMG will be a sponsor of the Arnold Amateur competitions.  CMG partners Rick Collins and Marc Gann will be up on the EXPO stage handing out trophies to the contest winners midday on Saturday.  Also, this year we are particularly excited to announce that Rick Collins is scheduled to present a special award to MMA superstar Randy Couture.  Couture – three-time Heavyweight UFC Champion and two-time Light Heavyweight Champion – remains one of the most successful figures in MMA history.  He is also an actor who can be seen in The Expendables and The Expendables 2 – working alongside major action stars including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin and Jason Statham, among others.  Rick, the founder of the Leap for Life fund-raiser (www.leapforlife.org), will be presenting Randy with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding career achievements and charitable endeavors on Friday at 11:45 AM on the EXPO stage — photos and more information on this will be posted after the presentation! Be sure to stop by to say hello to Rick and Marc, and also to CMG lawyers Alan Feldstein and Mike DiMaggio who, along with Rick and Marc, will be at the EXPO on both Friday and Saturday meeting with the many supplement company principals who are CMG clients. READ MORE »

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Sports Nutrition    Arnold Classic, Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio, Sponsor, The Arnold
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Senators Urge FDA to Withdraw NDI Draft Guidance: Encouraging News for the Supplement Industry

Jan6th
2012
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

In what may be considered highly encouraging and promising news for the supplement industry, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) have asked FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg to withdraw the controversial NDI Draft Guidance — and replace it with a new draft that, according to the Senators, “will provide needed clarification on what constitutes an NDI, but does not undermine the balance Congress struck in DSHEA to provide consumers with access to safe, affordable dietary supplement products.”

As reported in yesterday’s American Herbal Products Association Update, Senators Hatch and Harkin — who were the principal authors of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and are in a unique position to comment on this controversial new draft guidance and whether it is consistent with DSHEA — wrote a letter to the FDA to formally ask them to withdraw the document.  In their letter, the Senators pointed out that the draft guidance “serves to undermine DSHEA in a number of important aspects” — and went on to note their many concerns with the draft guidance (which many experts in the supplement industry have been noting since this controversial draft guidance for NDIs was introduced.) READ MORE »

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Dietary Supplements, FDA, Regulatory, Sports Nutrition    American Herbal Products Association, dietary supplement industry, DSHEA, NDI Draft Guidance, NDIs, Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
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Botanical Adulterants Program (BAP), Intended to Detect Adulteration of Herbal Supplements, part of Industry’s Efforts to Self-Regulate

Nov15th
2011
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

On November 2nd, the American Botanical Council (ABC), the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), and the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) announced a collaborative effort to address “adulteration of botanical ingredients” and educate members of the dietary supplement industry on accidental as well as intentional adulteration through the Botanical Adulterants Program (BAP). The program has received support from many industry members, retailers and trade associations. READ MORE »

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Dietary Supplements    American Botanical Council, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Botanical Adulterants Program, Council for Responsible Nutrition, Natural Products Alliance, the Natural Products Association, University of Mississippi's National Center for Natural Products Researc
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China to Tighten Quality Control of Raw Materials for Dietary Supplements

Mar21st
2011
Leave a Comment Written by Rick Collins

Chinese media sources (www.xinhuanet.com) report that China’s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) issued a circular on Friday requiring manufacturers of dietary supplements to tighten quality control over raw materials by reviewing the qualifications of raw material suppliers and inspecting the suppliers’ products regularly. The suppliers must improve the quality control of raw materials and manufacturers are directed to develop detailed records of raw material purchases to assist tracking the sources of raw materials. The SFDA also asked its local branches to more closely supervise manufacturers who use expensive and rare extractions from animals and plants and imported raw materials. The document threatened serious punishments for Chinese supplement manufacturers that use substandard raw materials. The agency pledged to both publicize and stop the distribution of unsafe supplements in China. 

Cross-contaminated raw materials from Chinese suppliers have long troubled the American supplement industry, prompting negative media reports, product recalls, and even criminal investigations. Recognition that tainted ingredients pose a serious problem is certainly a step in the right direction for Chinese authorities. Let’s hope quality control is improved not only for Chinese products, but for those raw materials that make their way across the Pacific to our shores.

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Dietary Supplements, Regulatory, Sports Nutrition, Steroids
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