So, I called the drug hotline at USADA for a determination on a product I’m looking to take. The product is called Monavie. The distributor says that it’s basically a mix of 18 different types of fruit juice. The label reads that there are a few other ingredients, but nothing that would throw a red flag as a banned substance. So, USADA classifies this product as a “use at your own risk” substance. Basically, it is my understanding that it must be classified this way because it is not a food substance regulated by the FDA. I am on the list for random drug tests, so I’m not going to test my luck. I was just curious about a few things…
I always see professional triathletes sponsored by supplement x,y,&z. Many of these athletes, I assume, are also subject to drug testing. So, how does that work out for them? Do they take the supplement and hope for the best, or are they just representing a company and not taking the supplement?
Where do they draw the line? Are gel products like PowerGel, HammerGel, etc. regulated by the FDA, or are these technically “risky” substances too? What about those caps, or any of the other 10 million products on the market?
Has any research been done to actually test some of these “risky” substances in a laboratory to determine if there could be any traces of banned substances? I guess the whole thing seems kind of silly to me. I am so careful about this that I wind up not taking anything. It would be tough to finish an IM on water alone.
No answers on the USADA aspect, but we did try the Monavie, just for general health benefit. The girlfriend loved it, but it gets expensive. We've started taking Natures Plus "Source of Life" energy shake. One of those all natural everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mixes. One of the few things either of us has ever taken that we can tell has an effect. I'd imagine it's just another of those "at your own risk" things though.
Aside from the doping issues, be very careful with supplements non-regulated by FDA. Their claims are not backed up, and product totally unregulated. In addition, many supplements on the market interact with other drugs. So ALWAYS tell your doctor what you are taking and bring them in with you to visits. Also, if you go to have surgery make sure the anesthesiologist knows what you are taking. Just because they are “herbal” doesn’t make them safe. (as an easy example, people who take garlic tablets are at risk for bleeding)
The problem with any supllement has been and is, not knowing what else goes down the same production line. Many athletes have tested positive for taking supplements that were contaminated by ingrediants not supposed to be in them. These are not FDA regulated. Many different kinds of products are typically manufactered by the same plant. Contamination of one product by another is a real risk.
The bottom line is that USADA and WADA codes clearly state that the athlete is responsible for what goes into their body. Even if you are able to prove it was a contaminted supplement, you will still get a ban for doping.
I think the issue is that USADA does not want to take a position saying “sure take Monavie” or gels or whatever. They don’t know what is in the product and are not an organisation that tests products, so probably say “use at yor own risk” about everything. What if there was an amount of undisclosed ephedra (for example) in a product that the manufactuer decided to put in - you’d be taking a banned substance, whether or not you knew about it.