The influence of dietary supplements on drug testing

While most athletes baulk at the idea of using performance-enhancing drugs to cheat, many view legal supplements as an essential part of their diet to help boost performance and injury recovery; however, taking these dietary supplements can be the equivalent of walking a tightrope. Athletes need to know exactly what it is that they are putting into their bodies, as drug testing has reached a level of sophistication where even minute traces of banned substances will be detected.

Article 2.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code ensures there is no confusion over positive drug test results, even if contaminated supplements are to blame. It states, “It is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping rule violation”. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has taken a firm stance that athletes are entirely responsible for their test results, and as Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell – amongst others – have recently found out, blaming others is no defence.

The dangers of contamination

With this hard-line stance in mind, athletes need to ensure they surround themselves with professional, qualified support teams, and that they have a full understanding of everything they ingest. The list of athletes who have blamed dietary supplements for doping violations – some legitimately, others not – is extensive, and supplements are a real problem area for several reasons. For starters, manufacturing standards vary greatly across the world and sometimes lead to supplements becoming contaminated with ingredients that are not listed on the packet. An infamous 2001 study from the International Olympic Committee highlighted this danger, finding that 15% of sports supplements – a staggering 634 different products – contained some trace of an undeclared, prohibited substance. A more recent study from Loughborough University’s Professor Ron Maughan found that even a minuscule amount of the steroid nandrolone is enough to trigger a positive drug test result. This is the case even if the amount of the drug contained in a contaminated supplement is over 1,000 times lower than that which manufacturers typically test for.

Issues also arise because ingredients have different names in different countries, spreading confusion over whether certain products are covered by WADA’s official Prohibited List. WADA also stresses that this list is by no means exhaustive. Confusion also abounds because products such as DHEA, for example, can be legally bought over the counter in the US, with little indication that they are banned by WADA.

Are supplements actually beneficial?

In addition, evidence shows that the sustained use of certain supplements may not offer any benefits and can actually cause damage in the long term. In Ireland, for example, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has advised young rugby union players to stop taking supplements such as creatine due to concerns over the under-researched effects the supplements could have on growing bodies. Cases such as the recent bouts of liver damage in Hawaii, which have been linked to an unknown dietary supplement, highlight the potential dangers under-researched supplements can have. While supplements do have their place in sport, there is little doubt that increased levels of education and research are required to help athletes to feel confident about making the right decisions for their careers and their health.