MEDICINES, SUPPLEMENTS & DRUGS in SPORT

A licensed medication carries a product licence that it contains only the ingredients stipulated in its data product sheet.

Supplements are not licensed medicines so you cannot be sure what is in them.

‘Drugs’ is the general name given to illegal or controlled substances that may cause harm if used inappropriately although some are used in the medical profession in a useful but controlled way (i.e. pain relief, treatment of ADHD).

LICENSED MEDICINES

In sport even some licensed medicines are on the banned list. If the medicine is vital for a person to function normally the medicine may be permitted by the Governing Body of that sport to allow the athlete to compete. The banned list is being updated regularly so if you need some medicine it is vital that you tell your doctor that you are a competitive athlete and that you must not have any banned substances. If the doctor is not sure you can advise them to check on the ‘drug information database’ (www.uksport.gov.uk/did or UK Sport’s Drug Information Line 0800 528 0004).It is important that you do not stop a medicine that you may need to keep you well but there may be more acceptable alternatives that can be used. In addition, the club you belong to may need to ensure that the right authority for a treatment to be used is given by the Sport’s governing body. You will have to apply for that approval on a special form. If everyone who needs to know has approved the treatment then there will not be a problem.

SUPPLEMENTS

Some athletes take supplements as they believe that they help their performance. They do so at some risk: No guarantee can be given that any supplement, including vitamins and minerals, ergogenic aid or herbal remedy is free from a prohibited substance unless it carries a product licence number. Remember that you should be able to get enough vitamins and minerals from a balanced diet.                                                                                                                         

DRUGS IN SPORT

People have been trying to ‘find an edge over their competitors’ for hundreds of years. In recent years there has been a movement to try to encourage drug-free sport and many sports and organisations have signed up to the World Anti-Doping Agency Code. Sports that have not signed up cannot compete at the Olympics or Paralympics. Drugs that are illegal in normal life are likely to be banned in sport as they are known to be addictive or dangerous in some way when used wrongly. In sport, however, some drugs or medicines that are used by doctors or may even be issued over the counter at pharmacies may contain banned substances (i.e. cold cures).  

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT GOES INTO YOUR BODY – BE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE EATING, DRINKING AND TAKING – IF IN DOUBT ASK FOR HELP FROM YOUR PARENTS/ COACH OR DOCTOR

Useful resources – online (many more available if search):

BBC Sport Academy-bbc.co.uk/sportacademy

UK Sport Start Clean – uksport.gov.uk/startclean

uksport.gov.uk/did   (drug information database)

youthinformation.com

TalktoFrank.com

Telephone:

Drug Information Line 0800 528 0004

Presented by Dr Harriet Collins, Medical Advisor; harriet_collins@msn.com

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