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MHA is a stimulant originally derived from the geranium plant but is now mostly synthetically produced. It was first developed as a nasal decongestant in the 1940s but can now be found in dietary or nutritional supplements under many different names other than MHA.
Some products which openly contain, or have been identified in certain countries to contain, MHA or its variants include, Hemo Rage, Jack3d, OxyElite Pro, 1.M.R., Mesomorph, Rocked, Crack, USN Anabolic Nitro, Ergolean Amp 2, DynaPep, Core Zap, C4 Extreme, Nutrimax Burner, NitroX, IBE X-Force, Fusion Geranamine, ClearShot, Black Cats, and Musclespeed. Please note this is not an exhaustive list but provides examples of some commercial supplements which contain, or have been identified in certain countries to contain, MHA or its variants.
MHA is classed as a Specified Stimulant prohibited In Competition only by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). MHA has caused a number of positive cases in Rugby for both amateur and professional Players.
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The stimulant effects are said to be less than amphetamine and ephedrine and slightly stronger than caffeine. MHA is marketed as a pre work-out supplement with thermogenic or stimulant properties and may have mild stimulant effects but there is no publicly available data on its specific mechanism of action, absorption, pharmokinectics, metabolism or excretion.
Anecdotal evidence suggests the effects of MHA last between 1-3 hours, and that it increases focus, heart rate and productivity whilst other users have reported increased anxiety, nervousness and sweating.
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MHA has many different variants/names which Players should check for individually if considering the use of any dietary or nutritional supplements. They include but are not limited to:
Methylhexaneamine; Methylhexanamine; DMAA (dimethylamylamine); Geranamine; Forthane; Forthan; Floradrene; 2-hexanamine, 4-methyl-; 2-hexanamine, 4-methyl- (9CI); 4-methyl-2-hexanamine; 1,3-dimethylamylamine; 4-Methylhexan-2-amine; 1,3-dimethylpentylamine; 2-amino-4-methylhexane; Pentylamine, 1, 3-dimethyl-; pelargonium graveolens; pelargonium extract; geranium, geranium oil or geranium root extract.
Warning:
In some cases, the labels and ingredient lists on products are
not complete.
Players should also be aware that products marketed under the same brand in different countries may contain different ingredients which may not always appear on the product label.
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An Adverse Analytical Finding for MHA carries with it a
potential two year sanction
which may be reduced if the Player can establish how MHA entered their system and can present corroborating evidence (that is, from another person or source) that it was not taken to enhance sports performance or mask the use of another Prohibited Substance.
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Players must be aware that, under the policy of strict liability, they are solely responsible for any substance found in their body (regardless of whether the substance was contained in a dietary or nutritional supplement prepared or recommended by team management, medical personnel or other trusted persons and/or whether or not it was listed on the label of the product). Those Players who use dietary or nutritional supplements do so
at their own risk and are advised to exercise extreme caution.
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