The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to order manufacturers of the controversial supplement androstenedione -- made famous by retired baseball slugger Mark McGwire -- to stop producing the product unless they can prove it's safe, the Associated Press reports. The agency is expected to tell the manufacturers on Thursday to stop selling the supplement, commonly known as "andro," unless they can demonstrate it's not dangerous, the news agency says. Mike in BrazilAndro is what's known as a steroid precursor, meaning the body uses it to make testosterone. And that means it poses the same health risks as an anabolic steroid, the FDA is expected to say in warnings to 23 manufacturers of the supplement, the AP says. Anabolic steroids are controlled substances that build muscle. But andro -- because it is a precursor, not a steroid itself -- has long been marketed as an over-the-counter dietary supplement, the AP says. The use of andro took off dramatically after McGwire said he used it in 1998 while hitting a then-record-setting 70 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals. He has said he later quit the supplements. 8th street latinas Tests have shown that andro raises testosterone levels. Side effects of elevated testosterone include acne, baldness, and a drop in the so-called good cholesterol that could lead to heart disease. For these reasons, critics of the supplement say it should be banned because of the potential impact on children going through puberty, the AP says.