#SayNoToDoping
Supplements & Risks
Managing the risk of nutritional supplements
- No supplement is 100 percent risk free.
- Supplements may contain substances from WADA’s Prohibited List.
- Strict liability: athletes are solely accountable for a prohibited substance in their system, however it entered and whether they intended to cheat.
Risk of supplements
Extreme caution is recommended. A number of positive tests have been attributed to misuse, poor labelling and contamination. There is no guarantee a supplement is free from prohibited substances.
Fake or low-quality products
These may contain prohibited substances and other substances harmful to health.
Manufacturing standards
Standards are often less strict than for medicines, so contamination at the factory is a real risk.
False claims
A label may say an organisation endorses it or that it is safe for athletes. Anti-doping organisations do not certify supplements.
Mislabelled supplements
Ingredients may be listed in the wrong dose, or not identified on the label at all.
How athletes reduce the risk
- Do a risk-benefit assessment, ideally with a certified nutritionist who knows the anti-doping system. Start with a food-first approach.
- Select a supplement only when a benefit is likely, with a nutritionist who has assessed the need.
- Choose products batch-tested by a reliable third party. No supplement is fully risk free.