30/01/2013

Marathon Runner Had Banned Stimulant In Her Waterbottle

A 30-year-old woman who died while running last year’s London marathon had the now-banned stimulant, Jack3d, in her waterbottle.

An inquest into the death of Claire Squires heard from her boyfriend of three years, who said: "Claire was always in the gym and this stuff was being widely talked about there."

He added: "She took it a couple of times [while training for the marathon] but didn't really get on with it. She never particularly liked it but wanted to beat her previous marathon time [of just over four hours].

"She said she was going to take one scoop, as recommended. In her own words: 'If I hit a bit of a wall, I might take this drink and see if it pushes me through the end of the marathon.'"

Jack3d, the energy drink said to boost energy, concentration and metabolism, was banned in August last year, four months after Squires' death, after concerns over a stimulant called DMAA (dimethylamylamine) in the powder.

DMAA has been linked to high blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, stroke and a death.

Last year, the UK's medicines watchdog MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) ruled DMAA was unlicensed and that all products containing the stimulant must be removed from the market to protect public safety.

It is not known if Squires drank the water containing the powder after 15 miles, as Van Herrewege said she had been planning, but he testified that Squires, a hairdresser, was carrying the bottle containing the powder as she set off on the race.

The inquest continues.

(H)


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