Supplements

Many athletes take supplements...

Dietary or food supplements can be a convenient way for athletes to take in nutrients. Sports drinks are useful for recovery and re-hydration, and sports gels are easy-to-carry carbohydrates. Liquid meal supplements are useful for athletes who experience pre-event 'butterflies.' Dietary supplements also include products that contain nutrients in large amounts to correct a known deficiency e.g. iron supplement for iron deficiency. These should only be taken if your doctor or sports nutritionist prescribes or recommends them.

The problem...

Drug Free Sport NZ is very concerned about the number of athletes who are prepared to take supplements with little knowledge of what real (as opposed to claimed) benefits they provide and whether or not they contain banned substances.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DRUG FREE SPORT NZ WILL NOT GUARANTEE ANY SUPPLEMENTS.
ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE TAKEN AT THE ATHLETE'S OWN RISK.

What you should be wary of:

Supplements which advertise 'muscle building' or 'fat burning' capabilities are the most likely to contain banned substances, either an anabolic agent or a stimulant.
The terms 'herbal' or 'natural' do not necessarily mean that the product is 'safe'.
Examples of substances which are banned and which may appear from time to time are:
Amphetamine(s) (also contained in 'street drugs' such as ecstasy)
Pure vitamins and minerals are not banned on their own but you are advised to use reputable brands and be wary of those combined with other substances.
Creatine is not prohibited but we cannot guarantee any particular brand.
Black market or unlabelled products are a particular concern, don't use anything which has an unknown source even if it comes from a coach or fellow athlete.
Products which claim to 'boost testosterone levels - or production' should be avoided.

Here are some points to consider:

Very few claims of enhanced performance through supplement use are backed up by valid research, while some supplements can actually have adverse effects. (Good marketing is not a guarantee of a good product.)
Appropriate training and diet are the key ingredients to maximising performance.
Remember that the primary motivation for most people wishing to sell supplements is to make a profit.
A significant number of positive tests, recorded by Drug Free Sport NZ, result from supplement use.

What you can do:

Contact a NZ Academy of Sport approved sports nutritionist or sports doctor for objective advice on the need for supplements in relation to your sport and personal situation.
If you make the decision that you need to use a supplement it is best to use products from NZ or Australian companies who have developed a good reputation and design their products for 'sports people', rather than gym members or the general public who are not concerned about testing positive. Don't be afraid to contact the manufacturers for more information.
Contact the Agency by e-mail or fax with a full list of ingredients. While we will not ultimately guarantee any supplement we will at least try to identify whether any of the ingredients listed are banned.
The Australian Institute of Sport provide very good information on supplements in the sports science section of their web site at www.ais.org.au

All Nutritional Supplements are taken at the Athlete's Own Risk

Why?

Nutritional supplements are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals.

Labelling may not be full or accurate. An enormous and ever-increasing number of products means it is impossible to investigate each one thoroughly.

Substances that are not banned may be combined with substances which are banned.

Products manufactured in the United States and other countries are subject to different labelling laws which are not as strict as New Zealand labelling laws.