Supplements
Take at your own risk
Substances that fall under the category of "Take at your own risk" include supplements and herbal products. Because these supplements are not regulated by the FDA they may contain substances not identified on the list of ingredients.
If an athlete tests positive for a prohibited substance consumed in a supplement, the athlete will be subject to sanctions. Athletes are responsible for what they choose to consume, and must be aware that the consumption of any substance that is included in this category places them at risk of positive drug test.
*Please call the USADA Drug Reference line at 1-800-233-0393 prior to purchasing any product.
USA Swimming Position on Supplements
In an effort to maintain the integrity of our sport and the safety of our athletes, USA Swimming has taken a proactive role in making athletes and coaches more aware of the risks involved in the use of commercially available dietary supplements that have been linked to enhancing performance. Along with USADA, USA Swimming considers dietary supplements "take at your own risk," placing full responsibility for any effects and repercussions on the athlete.
Claims made by the manufacturers/distributors of dietary supplements regarding the effectiveness of their products are not strictly regulated by the FDA. Any commercial dietary supplement is susceptible to containing substances that may appear on the Prohibited Substance list(s) of FINA and/or WADA. The potential exists for commercial supplements to contain substances that do not appear on the product's list of ingredients (see Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act for more info). Statistics indicate that in some cases, the use of legal dietary supplements has been linked to positive test results for prohibited substances in athletics.
The choice to use a dietary supplement is the sole responsibility of the athlete and one that should not be made in haste. An athlete is advised to weigh the options heavily, consider the consequences, and take responsibility for his/her actions.
USADA Supplement Connect Resources
Realize: There are risks associated with using supplements
Dietary supplements are risky because they could contain prohibited substances that can cause a positive anti-doping test or ingredients that cause health problems.
This section is designed to help you realize that:
- You can be harmed by supplements
- Laws and regulations cannot always protect you from dangerous products
- Doctors, coaches, and peers may not understand the risks of using supplements and could recommend unsafe products
- Your reliance on dietary supplements may be unnecessary
Recognize: Supplement risk when you see it
While there is no way to be completely sure about the safety of supplements, there are some warning signs you can learn to recognize when it comes to identifying risky supplements. As an athlete, it is up to you to evaluate the risk you’re willing to accept when using supplements. If you do choose to use supplements despite the risks, USADA’s recommendation is to reduce that risk by using only NSF Certified for Sport supplements.
If you choose to take your chances on an uncertified supplement, then these warning signs at the link below should raise serious red flags for you.
Reduce: Your Risk
If athletes to use supplements despite the known risks, USADA has always recommended that athletes use only dietary supplements that have been certified by a third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sport.
USADA currently recognizes NSF Certified for Sport ® as the program best suited for athletes to reduce the risk from supplements.
Using an NSF Certified for Sport ® product significantly reduces, but does not necessarily eliminate, the chance of testing positive and being sanctioned. Under the rules, if an athlete tests positive and establishes the source as a contaminated NSF Certified for Sport ® product, the athlete could get a much-reduced sanction, but there likely would still be a consequence.
Energy Drink Resources
The articles below provide information on the health and safety of energy drinks. These links will give you insight to making educated choices on how you want to hydrate your body in and out of training.