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Substances: Supplements

» Supplements: ASADA advice

Supplements are not comprehensively regulated in Australia.

For this reason ASADA and other organisations such as the Australian Institute of Sport, state institutes and the National Measurement Institute (formerly AGAL) can not provide clear information about the status in sport of supplements and sports foods.

There is a risk that supplements may contain:

• ingredients not listed on the label which could cause a positive test
• impurities introduced at the manufacturing stage which could cause a positive test.

It is impossible to guarantee the safety of these products or that they do not contain substances that may result in a positive test. ASADA can not accurately determine the status of any supplement product in sport.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code's strict liability rule athletes are responsible for any substance found in their body. It does not matter whether the athlete intentionally or inadvertently consumed or used the product.

If an athlete tests positive to a prohibited substance the result is likely to be a disqualification and possible sanction or suspension.

While some manufacturers may guarantee the ingredients in their product, or that the use of the product will not result in a positive test, the athlete is still responsible if a prohibited substance or method is detected, even with the guarantee.

Athletes must take seriously their personal responsibility for what they ingest.

To assist athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency has produced a Q & A on supplements.

ASADA board member Dr Andrew McLachlan has also conducted research that further demonstrates the risks associated with supplement use.

» Supplement Information Scheme update

Supplement Information Scheme will be discontinued from March 2006.

The Scheme has operated since 2002, with supplement manufacturers having their products independently tested by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) as part of a third party independent analysis scheme.

This analytical process assisted manufacturers in deciding whether to provide a legally binding written guarantee (to a product user) that their product:

• did not contain prohibited performance enhancing substances
• list of ingredients on the label was accurate.
  

The process was developed to provide greater information and confidence to athletes regarding the status of supplement in sport. The guarantee from a supplement manufacturer did not protect an athlete from a sanction if they recorded a positive test result.

The principle of strict liability still applies to athletes - the athlete is ultimately responsible for substances found in their bodies.

In 2005 the Supplements Information Scheme was reviewed. As a result of information collected during the review, including feedback from manufacturers and athletes, ASADA has concluded that the Scheme provided only negligible benefit to athletes.

In particular the Scheme did not provide athletes with better protection from inadvertently testing positive after using supplements.

The Scheme and the publication of products which manufacturers have guaranteed will be discontinued from March 2006.

The NMI will no longer test products on behalf of individual manufacturers. Manufacturers are still encouraged to give a guarantee in relation to products that have been tested or in relation to products that they are confident do not contain prohibited substances

ASADA will continue to explore ways in which better information on supplements can be made available to athletes.

ASADA will also continue to work with the World Anti-Doping Agency to support its global efforts relating to supplements use in sport.

 

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