Mr. Ellis is at the center of the latest ephedra-related controversy. After being interviewed for the ABC News program “20/20”, and anticipating a hostile report about his company and product, Mr. Ellis took pre-emptive action last week.

In a ＄1.5 million advertising campaign Metabolife announced the creation of a Website (www.newsinterview.com) posting the unedited 70-minute interview. Commercial spots ran on 1500 radio stations, and there were a number of full-page newspaper advertisements (including one in The New York Times on Wednesday). ABC News says it expects to broadcast the interview later this month.

Eleven years ago, Mr. Ellis, a former police officer, was arrested in San Diego and charged with using ephedrine to produce methamphetamine, a highly addictive street drug. He pleaded guilty to using a telephone in the trafficking of drugs and was sentenced to five years’ probation.

“I did something very wrong, something very much out of character, and something i am very sorry about,” he said, and later added: ”Metabolife has been looked at inside and out. We have a report from a D.E.A. approved lab that shows you can not make methamphetamine out of Metabolife. Obviously we are not breaking any laws.”

Mr. Ellis said he was hopeful that the attention would help him make a point. “If this product and industry are going to have longevity, we have to come out say, You can not pop supplements like they are carrots; this is another form of medicine.”

The sentiment is shared by many mainstream physicians. “The public should be informed,” said Dr. Gurley, of the University of Arkansas. “A drug is drug whether it is from a natural source or you may make it in laboratory.”

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