Athletes using legal performance-enhancing and medical sports supplements are more likely to dope than those using sports foods and superfoods, a new study reveals.

While some sports supplements may be necessary for an athlete’s programme, taking ergogenic and medical sports supplements may inadvertently lead to sportspeople developing favourable attitudes towards doping

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and Canterbury Christ Church University are calling for bespoke anti-doping education for athletes using such supplements to prevent them from turning to banned substances.

In the first study of its kind, the researchers surveyed 573 athletes competing at club, country, national and international levels about their use of four types of sports supplements:

• Ergogenic, such as creatine is used to improve performance
• Medical, such as iron is used to treat clinical issues and nutrient deficiencies
• Sports foods/drinks, such as protein bars provide a source of nutrients
• Superfoods, such as goji berries claim to optimise health and performance

Publishing their findings in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, the researchers note that athletes using ergogenic and medical sports supplements to improve performance, by boosting strength and shortening recovery between training sessions can develop the belief that doping is another means to improve performance.

Co-author Christopher Ring, professor in psychology at the University of Birmingham, commented: ‘Our results have important implications for coaches, nutritionists and sports doctors; they must appreciate that athletes who are administered ergogenic and medical sports supplements may develop more favourable attitudes towards doping.

‘An athlete using these supplements may come to believe that using chemically active substances is an acceptable way of enhancing sports performance. This belief could then later develop into rationalisation that doping is just another means to enhance performance.’

Two in five athletes surveyed (42%) used ergogenic supplements, whereas one in five used medical sports supplements (18%) and sports foods and drinks (21%). Superfoods were rarely used (2%). Over half (53%) used at least one sports supplement.

Researchers note that future research such explore how the use of one supplement type may lead to another and eventually the use of banned substances; for example, superfood use leads to ergogenic and medical supplement use, best high protein low carb bars – which may, in turn, lead to doping.

Co-author Dr Maria Kavussanu, from the University of Birmingham, commented: ‘Given that athletes using ergogenic and medical sports supplements are more likely to be open to doping, it is important that these sportspeople receive tailored anti-doping education to prevent a potential increase in the use of banned substances.’