A recent investigation by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA)
has uncovered alarming statistics within the sports supplement sector, indicating that a significant portion of sports supplements available online may be contaminated with illegal substances. Published in “Drug Testing and Analysis,” the study showcases the hidden dangers athletes may face from supplements, contributing to unintended doping violations.
The extensive 2022 survey
involved laboratory testing of 200 sports supplement products retailed online. The collaborative effort by SIA and Human and Supplement Testing Australia (HASTA) yielded concerning findings: 35% of these products contained one or more of the substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of banned substances. Dr. Naomi Speers, the Director of Research at SIA and co-author of this study, emphasized the risk involved in supplement usage, noting the importance of athlete awareness regarding this issue.
Of particular concern
was that over half (57%) of the supplements testing positive for banned ingredients failed to include these substances on their labels or online descriptions. Pre-workout formulas, fat loss aids, and muscle growth enhancers were the categories most commonly found to be compromised. Dr. Speers remarked on the danger of such hidden ingredients, “These undisclosed compounds have the potential to prompt a positive doping test, often with athletes being none the wiser to their intake.”
Given the strict liability standards
in anti-doping regulations, athletes face significant risks if tainted substances are detected in their bodies. This problem is exacerbated by the presence of both naturally banned compounds and man-made stimulants in these supplements. To combat this, Dr. Speers advises athletes to opt for supplements that have been through batch testing, a process that involves third-party screening for banned substances. For additional guidance, athletes can utilize the Sport Integrity app, which provides a comprehensive registry of over 12,000 batch-tested supplement products in Australia.
SIA has also been focusing on educational and technological solutions
to mitigate the issue, with the Sport Integrity app at the forefront. According to Gavin Whitehouse, SIA’s Acting Director of Education, these interventions have been effective in reducing positive doping cases involving supplements. Indeed, after the rollout of the app and updated educational materials, the instances of such cases sharply decreased, with none reported in 2022 or 2023, and just one in 2024.
This survey highlights the urgent need for awareness and proactive measures to ensure that athletes can avoid the dire consequences of inadvertent doping. With ongoing vigilance and the selection of thoroughly tested products, athletes can shield their professional integrity and maintain fair play within their respective sports.
