Safe sport supplementation

Question 1

What are the main factors as to why people take supplements?

Answer 1

• To correct or prevent nutrient deficiencies that may impair health or performance
  
  • 2. For convenient provision of energy and nutrients around an exercise session
  • 3. To achieve a specific and direct performance benefit in competition
  • 4. To gain a performance improvement indirectly accrued from outcomes such as allowing more effective training (i.e, higher intensity, greater volume), better recovery from training sessions, optimising mass and body composition or reducing risks of injury and illness
  • 5. For financial gain (sponsorship) or because products are provided free of charge
  • 6. As a ‘just in case’ insurance policy
    7. Because they know or believe that other athletes/competitors are using the supplement(s).

Question 2

Why may supplements not be the best option regarding value for money?

Answer 2

• Lack of quality control
  
  • Products not containing stated dosages
  • Products not containing ANY of the active ingredient
    Even relatively inexpensive ingredients may be absent.

Question 3

Management of supplementation

Answer 3

• All athletes must undertake internet research prior to taking supplement.
  
  • Not knoing is not an excuse
  • If failed drug test, banned.