There are people who are raising concern over dangerous effects of steroids, hormones and stimulants which are somehow found in the fitness supplements of athletes and before they perform in any sport, doping test is done and due to presence of traces of such harmful banned drugs inside body via supplements result in ban causing great damage to an athlete’s career. Several athletes have been positive to doping test due to presence of hidden elements in their health supplements.

 The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that stimulants like ephedrine, yohimbine and synephrine are found in regular supplements resulting in kidney failures, heart complications, seizures and several other complications. The risk of doping has increased over the years as the numbers of stimulants are readily available in health supplements as well as those which are sold on internet. Amateurs pick a supplement from internet depending upon their need without having knowledge of components it contains. A third party, BSCG certified Drug free program allows athletes to reduce the risk of supplement contamination by testing. (Bscg.org, 2018)

A 30 year old athlete (runner) Claire Squires died during marathon in London. It was found that she died because of DMAA which was present in her fitness supplements. MHRA found out that potentially harmful stimulants are readily available in unlicensed supplements which are available for fitness. She used a supplement known as Jack3d, mixed it in her water; this contains DMAA which was a major cause of her death.

 Research of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

An American swimmer Jessica Hardy was also a victim of supplement contamination in Olympic Games. In 2008, she could not make it to Rio Olympic Games when she was found positive to banned anabolic agent i.e. clenbuterol.

Unknown about Ingredients of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Hardy claimed that she never has used clenbuterol.

Negligent of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Her coach suggested that she might be ingesting it through the supplements she has been taking for positive drug test. The rules set by WADA, IOC and USADA suggested that ignorance or unawareness towards banned substance and using it anyway directly or indirectly is known as inadvertent use. Athletes are completely responsible for ingesting banned substance, knowingly or unknowingly.

Not Serious of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

An NGO performed their research and found traces of clenbuterol in legally available supplement taken by Hardy.

Sanctions not Known of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Athletes are responsible in every way for taking in of banned supplements despite the method how drug made its way into the body. Penalty is applied on athletes despite of the circumstances. It can be from few years to lifetime. Hardy faced penalty of two years.

Cost effectiveness of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

It was nutrition drink for sports from AdvoCare.

Not right testing methods of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Uninformed ingredient.

 Further research of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Another athlete Kolo Toure was tested and found positive to DMAA test. He was taking his wife’s dieting pills. Simon Mensing, of football team was positive to doping test due to ingestion of contaminated supplements. (Theguardian.com, 2018)

Precautions of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

·         It is important for an athlete to have complete knowledge about supplements they are taking, raw materials present in it and banned substances/ products.

·         Anti-doping agencies are present to provide such information to athletes.

·         An athlete can be successful if proper attention to nutritional diet is paid and successful athletic career can be achieved through proper training and healthy diet plan.

·         Healthy diet can be achieved and nutritional needs can be fulfilled by eating nutritional food.

·         Athletes during training, work out beyond their limits which can dehydrate them in order to keep themselves hydrated and have increased level of glucose or proteins. So according to need, they pick dietary nutrient and then check contamination and then use it, as the use is vital for their health and sport.

·         Athletes should learn about their dietary elements, supplements they are taking and drinks them are drinking in order to boost their sporty skills.

·         Despite the risks and threats if an athlete choose a particular supplement, it should be properly studied and understood through research of materials use to make the supplement.

·         Before using a supplement it should be tested to reduce the risk. If it comes in clear than it should be used otherwise it’s better to keep a safe distance from it.

·         Only legal and doping substances free supplements should be used.

References of Amateur athletes or boxer caught with doping while consuming health supplements

Bscg.org. (2018). Supplement information for athletes, teams, & leagues. Retrieved from https://www.bscg.org/supplement-information-for-athletes/

Theguardian.com. (2018). Amateur athletes 'could be taking dangerous fitness supplies'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/feb/01/amateur-athletes-dangerous-fitness-supplements