Article: one in ten supplements contaminated

amazingemmet

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/drugsinsport/2462620/Drugs-banned-by-the-World-Doping-Agency-found-in-one-in-10-supplements.html

The independent research shows that out of 152 products tested, 10.5 per cent contained enough illegal substances to trigger a positive drug test.

The findings will be a wake-up call to British athletes who would face a two-year suspension if they tested positive for a banned substance, even if they believed the product was legal.

The research will revive memories of the 1990s when numerous British athletes tested positive for nandrolone, including Dougie Walker, Mark Richardson and Linford Christie, who has always blamed the failed test on a contaminated supplement. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules ignorance is no defence.

Liz Yelling, who will compete in the marathon in Beijing, said: "These findings are worrying because athletes have a right to know that any supplements they use are totally clean."

The study, funded by Lucozade Sport, was carried out at the Newmarket laboratory of HFL, a leading drug-screening company. Andy Parkinson, acting director of UK Sport's anti-doping agency, said: "What this shows is that there are no guarantees when taking supplements and athletes have to be very mindful and cautious and manage all the risks that they can when deciding to use a particular supplement."

Meanwhile International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge says he expects up to 40 athletes to be caught doping in Beijing, compared to 26 at the 2004 Athens Games. He has based his forecast on the increased number and improved quality of urine analyses.

I'd like to know which ones were contaminated and with what.

Hanley

Bullsh!t.

I'd like to know HOW they were contaminated.

Dragan

I want to know if they tested Lucozade.

It will actually turn out that the supps that failed were mostly test boosters and rather than "contaminated" they will actually have contained a banned substance that was listed on the label anyways.

**** off lazy bastard drug test failing mother ****ers.

It all died with Sean Sherk for me.

g'em

Media scaremongering irks me. When its down without any reference to valid sources it downright annoys the sh*t out of me.

I'm trying to search for the source but I'm coming up empty handed so far...

pvt.joker

The fact that its funded by Lucozade says it all really.

Hanley

pvt.joker wrote: »

The fact that its funded by Lucozade says it all really.

I was JUST about to say that....

bwardrop

I referred to this in a post a couple of weeks ago. Not sure of the sources for this article, but I attended a conference where a german guy presented research on contamination in nutritional supplements. It was either:

a) intentional, but undisclosed contamination to make the product work

or

b) accidental cross-contamination of products made on the same production line

There was even a Vit C supplement which tested positive for nandralone.

This really isn't scaremongering by the media - this info has been know for ages and all athletes who are tested for drugs by WADA are aware of the risks of using any supplement that is not approved.

g'em

pvt.joker wrote: »

The fact that its funded by Lucozade says it all really.

Unfortunately Sports Medicine/ Science is an area that's very hard to get funding for and you take the € wherever you can. You'll often find that the funding agents behind a lot of these studies are Pharma companies or people with something to benefit from it.

bwardrop

His name was Hans Geyer - really interesting guy.

Here is a link to one of his papers

g'em

bwardrop wrote:

This really isn't scaremongering by the media - this info has been know for ages and all athletes who are tested for drugs by WADA are aware of the risks of using any supplement that is not approved.

To me it is when it's done in such a sensationalist manner without providing sources and references.

I'm not disputing for a second that there is contamination in some products, the lack of regulation in the industry as a whole makes that an unfortunate inevitability, but when you look at some of the studies up close the reality isn't as cut and dry as the soundbites would lead you to believe.

bwardrop

I can tell you with out a shadow of a doubt, for Irish athletes - or indeed any athlete that is subject to WADA testing, it is this cut and dry.

Athletes are only only supposed to take medications / supplements that are on the WADA approved list, which may be found here

This is drummed into them continuously and they are all very aware of the potential consequences of not adhering to the guidelines.

The studies regarding the efficacy of supplements should be viewed with caution - certainly a gray area. However, if a supplement tests positive for a banned substance, that is black and white and could end a career.

hunnymonster

and quite apart from the lack of sources cited, no credible scientist would allow something like "independent research..... funded by lucozade sport" which is said in the article.
I totally take g'ems point that science is under-funded and we take money where we can get it but funded by a sports supplement manufacturer is not, no way, never, independent.

For anyone concerned about drugs testing, some supplements guarantee that they are WADA clean and produced on lines not contaminated with anything else.

g'em

bwardrop wrote: »

I can tell you with out a shadow of a doubt, for Irish athletes - or indeed any athlete that is subject to WADA testing, it is this cut and dry.

Oh I know, I'm tested under WADA regulations too

You're spot on, any athlete competing and being tested under these regulations should know what they can and can't take, there's no excuses. My gripe is with how the media portray the supplement industry as a whole to the general public.

Hanley

I'm STILL waiting for someone to tell me how supplements manufactured in a factory that is no where near a steroid lab become contaminated.

bwardrop

Hanley wrote: »

I'm STILL waiting for someone to tell me how supplements manufactured in a factory that is no where near a steroid lab become contaminated.

Not all manufacturers have independent production lines. Some factories make lots of different products for lots of different companies and cross contamination can occur.

It can't be proven, but I would say that in many cases, the supplement is deliberately contaminated by the manufacturer to make it work.

Roper

In other news, a new study has shown that 90% of brands of cars are unsafe, with the possibility of accidents occurring WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THEM! The study, which was called The Relative Safety of Automobiles Sponsored by the all New Ford Kuga, found that in many cases, non-Ford drivers fell victim to collisions while not driving Fords.

Also, I was caught drunk driving on Saturday night and I may lose my license. I actually didn't touch a drop while I was in the pub, I think it was because the 7Up I was drinking was contaminated with vodka.

Dragan

At the end of the day all we have no idea what was contaminated with what. They have released no list of products, what failed and what didn't and for what.

Tis a joke with no punchline.

rubadub

Dragan wrote: »

At the end of the day all we have no idea what was contaminated with what.

And what amounts, almost every wallet in the country has traces of cocaine in it. Someone mentioned if lucozade was tested which is a fair point, I wonder how many common products in supermarkets would "fail" the same test.

Lucozade is not just some small time soft drink manufacturer, it is owned by GlaxcoSmithKline, the world's second largest pharmaceutical company, hmmm vested interest?

Perhaps a new line of guaranteed contaminant free overpriced supplements is on the way...

Hanley

rubadub wrote: »

Perhaps a new line of guaranteed contaminant free overpriced supplements is on the way...

Well I'd put my a55 on the line that The Supplement Factory's stuff is guaranteed contaminant free. I've been in the factory and there's nothing there that could contaminated the production IRT drug testing.

I know for a fact Nut. X gear is uncomtaminated too as I've been DT'd twice in the last year, both times I'd be using Nut. X stuff on the same day. Obviously both tests were clear.

t-ha

Previous research from the HFL which gives a little more info on what products they tested, how they tested them, what levels corrispond to a fail. Doesn't name names as such but gives you an idea what category of product the positive tests are in;

http://www.drugfreesport.com/rec/files/hfl-supplement-research-report.pdf