Skaters, Supplements & Steroids
Recreational Skaters Beware of Tainted Nutritional Supplements
Recent research revealed several top brands of common sports supplements contain controlled or banned substances that may compromise the long-term health of athletes.
Skaters and other athletes are often tested for drugs before or after wins at major international competitions. Few of the hundreds are accused, and those often swear that they haven’t taken anything illegal. Still, their rebuttals are met with scrutiny and punishment. Perhaps the only thing these athletes are guilty of is trusting disreputable pharmaceutical companies who produce tainted nutritional supplements.
Their plight sends a warning to the public, to consumers who use unregulated nutritional supplements as part of their nutritional routine. Many of these customers are speed skaters and figure skaters who skate for the health benefits of the sports. Could they be sabotaging their health by taking tainted vitamins, protein powders and supplements?
Product Regulation
Sportspeople take nutritional supplements to increase strength, endurance, and overall fitness. Unfortunately in the US, dietary boosters are not regulated for ingredients, claims or purity. Even though all ingredients are supposed to be listed on the product’s container, often these lists are incorrect or incomplete because manufacturers advertently omit banned substances that make their product seem more effective.
The IOC approves for use only a small number of supplements from manufacturers whose labs adhere to strict protocols. Supplements are otherwise not regulated because they are not considered food items. Even regular daily vitamins are questionable in their contents. For example, most “Vitamin C” sold at regular markets contains little or no soluble vitamin C. Brief disclaimers or careful semantics are all these companies need to avoid lawsuits. Likewise, some over-the-counter protein powders and amino acid formulas contain trace amounts of stimulants and steroids.
It’s difficult to ask for more regulation of substances since such requests will undoubtedly by met with loss of consumer rights. For example, the US natural herbs industry has for years been on the brink of losing to government control so that no herbs or vitamins can be purchased without a prescription. Citizens want to make sure the products they take are safe and pure, but they don’t want the government dictating what health-improving medicinals they can or can’t choose to put in their bodies.
Product Safety
Some manufacturers are now taking steps to assure consumers that their products are safe for general consumption as well as for talented athletes whose world class standings could otherwise be compromised.
First, trustworthy companies follow specific guidelines when manufacturing supplements. Termed: “Good Manufacturing Practices,” these strict guidelines were set forth by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Anti-Drug Administration.
Extensive tests, such as GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a method of testing supplements for drugs,) are expensive. These costs roll down to consumers. Quality, safe and pure products are usually very expensive but offer much higher quality than their less expensive counterparts.
Athletes should expect to spend more to make sure the products they consume are free of stimulants, hormones, and other banned substances. An extensive list of prohibited ingredients is updated on the World Anti-Doping Agency website.
Testing and Results
USADA 2007 third-quarter testing of athletes revealed only 4 violations out of nearly 2,000 tests. (Individual alleged anti-doping violations are posted on www.usantidoping.org.) Perhaps these numbers reveal that regulations and nutritional recommendations are being followed by professional athletes – regardless of questionable manufacturing practices. Unfortunately, the general public remains uninformed that the products they trust their health to may be harming them.
Nearly 25% of the popular dietary supplements recently tested by Informed-Choice, a group of manufacturers, contained traces of steroids and other banned substances. Names of these best-selling brands haven’t been released for legal reasons. This should send a cautionary reminder to figure skaters and speedskaters who use dietary supplements as a part of their daily training regimen. Buy quality products from reputable companies and direct distributors. Discount store “bargain” supplements may be giving you more than you bargained for.
