What are sporting organisations in the UK doing about the problem of contaminated and poorly labelled supplements?

UK Sport is committed to supporting athletes in the UK who are committed to competing and winning fairly. We will continue working towards achieving a better situation for athletes. Our position statement is intended to protect the integrity and reputation of athletes by warning them of the risk that supplements may contain Prohibited Substances that are not listed on the label.

Do herbal remedies contain prohibited substances?

Herbal remedies, such as ginseng, guarana and echinacea have also been found to contain prohibited stimulants or other substances which may not be listed on the label. These products are difficult to quality assure and therefore a guarantee cannot be given as to their safety or legality.  Many beneficial claims are made by herbal products and often there does not appear to be any conclusive scientific evidence supporting these claims or the effect on sporting performance.  Often herbal remedies and/or Prohibited Substances and Methods are often given a number of varying names.  For example, Ma Huang (Chinese Ephedra) is a plant that contains the prohibited substance ephedrine.  

The manufacturer has given you a guarantee that their product is ’IOC PERMITTED’, ’Safe for Sport’, ‘WADA or UK Sport approved’. Is it true that supplements have been endorsed by these agencies?  

Although some substances found in supplements are not on the list of Prohibited Substances and Methods, this assessment can only be made of the substances listed on the label of the product.  In the absence of a quality assured standard in manufacturing and labelling, the substances listed on the label may not be a true indication of what is actually in the product. Some supplement companies target sportspeople by using the words ’IOC PERMITTED’ to build confidence in the product. The IOC, WADA or UK Sport do not endorse any supplements and advise caution to athletes wanting to use them. Manufacturers are often aware of the competitiveness of sport and the continual strive to achieve. Many market their products by relying on personal endorsements by well-known sportspeople or anecdotal evidence, neither of which may be based on scientific studies or reliable evidence.

Can I get my supplements tested to make sure they are safe to take?

Getting your supplements tested by a reliable laboratory does not provide a guarantee to the safety or legality of your supplements.  Supplement testing is one step towards assessing the risk of contamination to your product and it should be encouraged of manufacturers to test their product. However you must be aware that this is not a guaranteed method of identifying safe products.

Where can I find a registered nutritionist or accredited sports dietician?

• British Dietetic Association- telephone +44 (0) 121 200 8080; website www.bda.uk.com
  
  
• Dieticians In Sport and Exercise Nutrition  - mail to DISEN P0 BOX 22360 London W13 9FL
  
  
• The Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register - www.senr.org.uk
  
  
• Nutrition Society - telephone +44 (0) 207 602 0228

Can UK Sport recommend any supplements?

UK Sport currently can not and will not endorse or recommend any supplement or supplement manufacturer.  As part of our continued support to the elite sport community, we have begun to provide information with regard to the scientific efficacy of some supplements to allow athletes to make more informed choices. UK Sport will continue to develop the information we provide and are committed to supporting our athletes regarding supplement use in sport.

For more information on Supplements in Sport visit www.100percentme.co.uk.