Issue 071
January 2011
Rosi Sexton is a professional MMA fighter with a record of ten wins and two losses. She has fought for promotions such as Bellator, EliteXC, Bodog Fight and Cage Warriors. Rosi is a registered osteopath, currently practicing in central Manchester, England. She can be contacted for appointments and enquiries by email at [email protected] or via her web page at www.rosisexton.com
Q: I could be tested for performance enhancing drugs. It seems that whenever a fighter fails a drugs test they blame the medication they were taking, or a nutritional supplement. What do I need to avoid?
A: For a definitive list of banned substances, you should contact the athletic commission for the US state that you’re fighting in. The Word Anti-Doping Agency (WADA: www.wada-ama.org/en/) provides a comprehensive list of banned substances that has been adopted by many of the athletic commissions.
The list of banned substances includes several different classes:
Anabolic steroids: And human growth hormone, along with other ‘muscle building’ drugs.
Stimulants: Including recreational drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine, but also including prescription drugs such as Ritalin, commonly prescribed for attention deficit disorder. Caffeine was removed from the WADA banned-list in 2004, but once again you should double-check with your athletic commission. Some cough and cold medications also contain banned substances in this category.
Painkillers: Including some over-the-counter medications as well as drugs that may be prescribed by a doctor. Sedatives are sometimes used by athletes, occasionally to calm nerves before an event. This includes recreational drugs such as alcohol and marijuana, even though they are not usually regarded as performance enhancing!
Diuretics: These are prescription drugs that are sometimes misused by athletes to expel water from the body, for example by a fighter trying to make weight.
Masking drugs: They can be used to prevent the detection of other types of drug.
What if I am prescribed a medication by my doctor? Surely I’m allowed to take it?
Not necessarily. If you can prove to the athletic commission that you need the medicine then you may be granted a ‘medical exemption’, but it’s imperative that you arrange this before the fight. You’ll be asked about medication that you’re taking when applying for a license. You will probably need supporting evidence from your doctor, and even then there is no guarantee that you will be granted a license. If you are in any doubt, you should contact the athletic commission well in advance. Commonly used medications that require exemptions are Ventolin (usually a blue inhaler, used by asthmatics) and Ritalin (commonly prescribed for attention deficit disorder).
What’s the deal with nutritional supplements? I keep hearing stories about tainted supplements, so how do I know whether mine are safe?
Several cases have occurred where supplements bought from health-food shops have been found to contain banned substances. It’s not clear whether this contamination was accidental, or whether it was added deliberately in order to make the product more effective. This has obvious health implications for people unknowingly taking the substance, but also has serious implications for an athlete who may be subject to drug testing.
Anti-doping organizations emphasize that diet, lifestyle and training should all be considered first, before thinking about nutritional supplements. They recommend that any supplement use is discussed with a qualified dietician, nutritionist or doctor.
Some sports-nutrition brands make the effort to monitor and screen their products carefully, and provide a guarantee that their supplements are “drug free” and fall within the WADA rules. Although these guarantees aren’t backed by the drug-testing organizations themselves, they do provide reassurance and are probably an athlete’s best option at present.
What about over-the-counter medicines?
Before taking any product, you should check whether it is allowed. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are, but even cough and cold medicines can contain illegal substances. The Global Drug Reference Online website provides information about the status of particular medicines (www.globaldro.com). Remember that products bought in the UK may contain different ingredients from similar, or even identical-looking, products bought in the US or elsewhere in the world!
If I didn’t know I was taking a banned substance, then it’s not my fault, right?
Wrong. In screening for performance enhancing drugs, the principle of “strict liability” applies. This means that you will be held responsible for any banned substance found in your body, regardless of how it got there!
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