Issue 203
April 2024
By Ray Klerck
If you scroll your favorite fighters' social media, you’ll notice that the first thing they endorse after getting positive results is supplements. Whether it’s a sneaky sip before a video or a supplement bottle in the background, every athlete gets a leg up from sports nutrition, which is yet another risk they take.
It is a well-deserved risk, considering MMA fighters probably have some of the highest training load of all athletes. When the difference between victory and defeat hangs by a hair’s breadth, fighters constantly seek every legal advantage to enhance their performance, recovery, and overall health. Yet, this reliance on supplements to push the limits of human performance brings a maze of challenges, not least the risk of inadvertently ingesting substances that could lead to failed drug tests and tarnished reputations. Back in 2019, four fighters got a competition ban thanks to the illegal SARM ostarine appearing in contaminated supplements—big next-gen names were on this list, like Sean O’Malley and Nicco Montano. As we cheer for our favorite fighters, there's a subplot that's got everyone from rookies to seasoned pros on their toes: the saga of supplement safety.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF YOEL ROMERO
Let's kick things off with a tale as old as the UFC's doping policy. Picture this: Yoel Romero, a veteran and beast in the ring, faces an unexpected opponent—his own supplement. Roughly four years ago, Romero bought a sports supplement from Goldstar Performance Products, and it led to him receiving a suspension from the USADA. The supplement he took was tested by USADA and was found to have a banned substance that wasn’t listed on the label. He was lucky enough to side-step a lengthy suspension, but Romero sued Goldstar and won $27.5 million in damages. You might think that’s not a bad way to earn a handsome payout in the twilight of your career, but there’s always a catch. After an appeal, the damages were found to be excessive, and it’s now unclear how much of that settlement Romero ever received, creating a legal battle worthy of its own pay-per-view special. Recent surveys have shown that 28% of supplements pose a potential risk for an inadvertent doping violation, which is a reminder that sometimes the biggest fight is what you put on the end of your supplement scoop.
THIRD-PARTY TESTING
Third-party supplement testing is a beacon of hope in the murky waters of MMA nutrition. After the UFC and USADA parted ways, fighters are now turning to third-party certifications to ensure their pre-workout is more boost and less bust.
The question remains: how are UFC fighters ensuring their supplements are safe and clean? The storyline has shifted towards personal responsibility, with fighters increasingly reliant on reputable third-party certifications to validate the purity of their supplements. UFC fighters are directed to a group of UFC approved supplements that are third-party certified. Groups like the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) have become the sheriffs in town, ensuring that what's on the label is what's in the bottle—and nothing more. The UFC model underscores a collective effort on behalf of third-party certification providers and sports authorities to maintain the integrity of sports while protecting the health and careers of the athletes.
IT'S NOT JUST AN MMA THING
If you thought this was an MMA-exclusive drama, think again. Athletes across all sports are tiptoeing through the supplement minefield, with careers hanging in the balance. From the NBA courts to the CrossFit boxes, the call for clean competition is louder than ever. It's a universal chorus singing the praises of third-party testing, ensuring that the only thing athletes are high on is their natural talent and hard work. For fighters and athletes, the choice is clear: go for supplements that have been given the third-party stamp of approval or risk getting caught in the doping dragnet. It's a new age of personal responsibility, where selecting the right supplement is as crucial as picking the right fight strategy.
Fighters can turn to trusted resources to help navigate the complex world of sports nutrition. Websites such as the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG), Informed Sport, and NSF Certified for Sport offer comprehensive databases of products that have undergone rigorous third-party testing for banned substances and contaminants. Athletes can significantly reduce the risk of inadvertently consuming banned substances by choosing supplements verified by these organizations. Additionally, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) provides up-to-date lists of prohibited substances and is an essential reference for athletes at all levels. The path to glory is littered with challenges, but with some help from science and diligent label-reading, athletes are punching their way to safer, cleaner competition.
EDUCATE TO ELEVATE
In the fight against tainted supplements, knowledge is power. By arming athletes with the correct info on supplement risks and the golden ticket of third-party testing, we're not just protecting careers; we're safeguarding legacies. And for the supplement companies? It's a wake-up call to clean up their act under the watchful eye of athletes who now know their BSCG from their BS. Yoel Romero's tale is more than just a cautionary tale; it's a testament to the power of integrity in sport. The fight for a clean legacy is as fierce as any bout in the octagon, highlighting the critical role of vigilance and third-party testing in guarding physical health and the honor of athletes worldwide. The crusade for clean sport is a team effort, uniting athletes, organizations, supplement makers, and certifiers in a common cause. It's about creating an ecosystem where fair play is the name of the game, and the spirit of competition is untainted by doubt. The commitment to third-party testing and the vigilant selection of supplements are not just good practice—they're the hallmarks of a sport that respects its roots and looks to a future where the only shadows cast are those of the athletes in the limelight, not the specter of doping. Ultimately, the sweetest victory is earned fair and square with nothing but talent and determination.
