Drug-Free Sports Supplements In Compliance With Sports Organizations

Over the last several years, some very gifted endurance athletes go from famous to infamous after drug tests indicated they took banned substances, and illegal sports supplements, to improve their performance. These people have been stripped with their Olympic gold medals and other prestigious accomplishments, been the subject of countless headlines and still have sullied their reputations forever. By seeking an unfair advantage, these endurance athletes have gained the dreaded asterisk alongside their names on the net and destroyed any possibility of lucrative endorsement deals for most of their lives. Many have gone from the very pinnacle of the sports to ignominy in a very short while, and it seems that with each doping scandal, the list of sports organizations’ list of banned substances grows longer. Even some drug-free sports supplements are causing problems.

The Sports Supplements Approval Process through the Food and Drug Administration

For a drug free sports supplement to gain approval for sale inside the U.S., they need to endure the same vetting process as products categorized as “dietary supplements.” Including drug-free sports supplements. According to the Dietary Supplemental Health and Education Act (DSHEA) signed into law in 1994, a dietary or sports supplement is really a product taken orally made up of a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. As you may guess, DSHEA’s definition of what produces a sports supplement and a dietary ingredient is pretty a bit more detailed. However, under DSHEA, the firm that manufactures a sports supplement is wholly responsible for ensuring their method is safe, and any claims made relating to products must be substantiated by adequate evidence showing they aren't false or misleading. Unless a sports protein supplement has a new dietary ingredient not previously vetted by the FDA, FDA approval is not required before they are marketed or purchased in the U.S.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport has warned athletes from the risks associated with using supplements as much of them contain banned substances.

The warning practices two Springbok players Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after going for a supplement provided by the Springbok management during a recent tour in the UK.

Khalid Galant, CEO in the Institute for Drug-Free Sport said: ‘It is simply not worth athletes utilizing the risk of facing a ban whenever they consume so called nutritional supplements that contain banned substances and test positive.’

The South African Rugby Union has now taken action to halt supplying Springbok players with sports supplements - and refuses that some of its players endorse the merchandise.

Galant added that Drug-Free Sport increased the amount of doping tests in 2010 and intend upping the number of tests further for 2011.