Following a significant number of positive cases for methylhexaneamine recently reported at different parts of the world and at major games including the XIX Commonwealth Games and the Guangzhou Asian Games, HKADC would like to issue this warning to alert athletes on the potential risk of inadvertent doping for using products containing methylhexaneamine.

Methylhexaneamine is newly added to the Prohibited List by WADA in 2010. It is being classified as stimulant (S6) on the List and is prohibited in-competition. Athletes and athlete supporting personnel should beware that geranium oil (an ingredient in certain massage oil, essential oil used for aromatherapy, and supplements) contains methylhexaneamine. The use of these products immediately prior to and during competition could result in sanction for return of positive test result.

Methylhexaneamine could be labeled by different names including 1,3-dimethylamylamine, dimethylamylamine, dimethylpentylamine, dimethyhexaneamine (DMAA), forthan, forthane, floradrene, and geranamine. It is therefore important to check the presence of these ingredients against labels of all supplements and also pharmaceutical products before using them.

According to the principle of strict liability, an athlete is responsible for the presence of any prohibited substance in his/her body no matter the use is intentional or unintentional.