Australia set to warn athletes off food supplements

By Shane STARLING

- Last updated on GMT

Athletics Australia: "The strong recommendation to athletes is that supplement use be discontinued except in a very limited number of cases."
Athletics Australia: "The strong recommendation to athletes is that supplement use be discontinued except in a very limited number of cases."

Related tags Food supplements Dietary supplement

Athletics Australia (AA) – the body that represents elite athletes – is set to warn Australia’s best sports people that food supplements cannot be trusted to be contamination-free and deliver scant benefits.

AA’s integrity and ethics unit has drafted a policy document calling on athletes to forego food supplement use except when an athlete has a doctor’s prescription for a nutrient deficiency like iron or vitamin D. It warned younger athletes off them completely.

''Without wanting to pre-empt the delivery of that draft policy, it is based on the three principles of athlete health and safety, evidence-based science, and compliance with the WADA code,”​ an AA spokesman said in local press reports.

''The strong recommendation to athletes is that supplement use be discontinued except in a very limited number of cases. ​The draft policy includes a ban on virtually all supplement use by under-age athletes. It takes a hardline approach for young athletes based on the belief that situations in which individuals under the age of 18 would be required to use dietary nutritional supplements for sporting purposes are rare.

''Athletes under the age of 18 would be discouraged from using any performance-enhancing supplements, even group A supplements, such as caffeine, creatine and bicarbonate.

''The policy also recommends that the use of supplements should only take place on the advice of an accredited sport medicine professional. A stronger stance on supplementation is important as there are now widespread concerns about the availability of supplies that can be guaranteed as being uncontaminated.''

Beyond Australia

Globally, policies vary greatly among athletic organisations with many advising extreme caution for food supplements as with all bodily inputs because of the strict doping procedures that many athletes face.

Some advise athletes that some food supplements can be used as long as they have passed through a testing programme that verifies quality control procedures.

UK Athletics adheres to such a policy, advising athletes that if they are going to take supplements, those that have passed through a HFL Sports Science Informed-Sport testing scheme are the safest, if not 100% safe.

mattdavies-australia-AA
Australian sprinter Matt Davies (centre) was banned for two years in 2013 after testing positive for a stimulant. Davies blamed a contaminated food supplement.

Of that position, UK Athletics spokesperson Alex Ferguson told us: "The use of dietary supplements by athletes is a concern because in many countries the manufacturing and labelling of supplements may not follow strict rules, which may lead to a supplement containing an undeclared substance that is prohibited under anti-doping regulations."

"A significant number of positive tests have been attributed to the misuse of supplements and taking a poorly labelled dietary supplement is not an adequate defence in a doping hearing."

UK Anti-Doping advice on the matter states, Informed-Sport is only a risk minimisation programme. However, if an athlete has made a decision to use a supplement, it is better to be taking one that has been subjected to credible testing and appropriate manufacturing controls.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) advises athletes to proceed with caution when using food supplements due to the potential for contamination. But it doesn't advise against them.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2011 reversed its former position​ and said some food supplements could be beneficial to athletes. 

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1 comment

Difference Between Synthetic and Whole Food

Posted by Chick Bowers,

Why is it not pointed out,that their are numerous studies
Proving the benefits of Whole Food suplements,and the
damage done by synthetic(inorganic) supplements.
Synthetics are coal tar based ,crushed stone and dead.

The body treats the synthetic as toxic invaders,stores in liver and fat cells.
Google any one of a number of studies,Not Funded by
Big Pharma.
It's all about discrediting for government control,remember Drug companies create customers,not cures.All about their bottom line affected by healthier
people.

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