Time to Help Athletes Comply with Anti-Doping Rules

In light of the recent positive drug testing of several high-profile athletes, including former 100-meter world-record holder, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay, the fastest American runner over the 100-meter event, it is time for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Track and Field and private businesses to work together to come up with a system that will prevent athletes from becoming ensnared in the tangled field of drug compliance. Currently, we hear the statement that athletes are responsible for what goes into their body.  In principal, it is valid but in reality it is very difficult to attain or should we say, very difficult to not step outside the boundary of drug compliance. An athlete taking a supplement, for example, must be sure of what is in it.  Can he depend on what is written on the label?  We have come to see that what usually is on the label of any consumer product may not necessarily be what is in it.  One example is non-fat dairy products.  A closer reading of the ingredient label shows that what is considered non-fat is actually not a scientific outcome but more a legal outcome.  A position arrived at through the power of lobbying which is exercised by the special interest groups that support the product.  We see a similar phenomenon in the labeling of organic foods, where there is no clear standard of what is organic.  In the world of supplement, it would not be a stretch to say that ingredient lists are similarly written.  So what is an athlete to do? We feel that the WADA and private companies can provide a list of supplements that they endorse.  Through thorough testing by well-reputed laboratories, the WADA and Track and Field would be able to vet supplements to determine if they contain banned substances.  Only those that contain no banned substances would be sanctioned.  These products would be sold on approved websites. Companies would also be vetted to ensure they maintain exacting production and quality standards.  In fact, we recommend a handful of companies be allowed to participate to tightly ensure quality. But what of counterfeits?  The products would only be available from the recognized websites mentioned earlier with orders being sent directly by mail to the athletes. Taking these steps may never totally eliminate transgressions by athletes but it would go a long way in eliminating unintentional violation of the banned-substances policy of the WADA.     Like us on  Facebook Follow us on Twitter