Athletes urged to pay attention to medications they take
President of the Sports Medicine Association Dr. Perry De Freitas is warning local athletes to be meticulous with supplements and other medications that they take, including cold medicines.{{more}}
De Freitas, who made a brief presentation at the All Sports Meeting held on Saturday, October 16, at the Presidentâs Suite at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, requested that athletes check every supplement that they use.
De Freitas said that athletes can fail drug tests for banned substances which they unwittingly take.
âThey may have no intention of increasing their performance, but can ignorantly fail a drug test,â De Freitas said.
He further told SEARCHLIGHT that there are some companies which advertise multi-vitamins as energy drinks and energy enhancers that contain substances which are banned.
He explained that while some supplements will show legal substances on their labels, the components of the substances could be on the banned list.
His advice was to stay clear of them, if they do not know exactly what they contain.
De Freitas said that the World Anti- Doping Association, of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a member, will soon publish the list of banned substances.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is also part of the regional organization, the Regional Anti Doping Organisation (RADO).
At the recent Commonwealth Games in India, Osayemi Oludamola of Nigeria was stripped of the gold medal in the 100m, after she failed a drug test for the banned substance methylhexaneamine, which was found in her system, through a urine sample.
It was later proffered that Oludamola may have taken the substance for treatment for a toothache.
De Freitas revealed that athletes are required to fill out a âTherapeutic Exemption Formâ in such circumstances.
It was widely felt at the All Sports Meeting that the local Sports Medical Association and other relevant authorities should hold a session to sensitize athletes on the anti-doping code.(RT)President of the Sports Medicine Association Dr. Perry De Freitas is warning local athletes to be meticulous with supplements and other medications that they take, including cold medicines.
De Freitas, who made a brief presentation at the All Sports Meeting held on Saturday, October 16, at the Presidentâs Suite at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, requested that athletes check every supplement that they use.
De Freitas said that athletes can fail drug tests for banned substances which they unwittingly take.
âThey may have no intention of increasing their performance, but can ignorantly fail a drug test,â De Freitas said.
He further told SEARCHLIGHT that there are some companies which advertise multi-vitamins as energy drinks and energy enhancers that contain substances which are banned.
He explained that while some supplements will show legal substances on their labels, the components of the substances could be on the banned list.
His advice was to stay clear of them, if they do not know exactly what they contain.
De Freitas said that the World Anti- Doping Association, of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a member, will soon publish the list of banned substances.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is also part of the regional organization, the Regional Anti Doping Organisation (RADO).
At the recent Commonwealth Games in India, Osayemi Oludamola of Nigeria was stripped of the gold medal in the 100m, after she failed a drug test for the banned substance methylhexaneamine, which was found in her system, through a urine sample.
It was later proffered that Oludamola may have taken the substance for treatment for a toothache.
De Freitas revealed that athletes are required to fill out a âTherapeutic Exemption Formâ in such circumstances.
It was widely felt at the All Sports Meeting that the local Sports Medical Association and other relevant authorities should hold a session to sensitize athletes on the anti-doping code.(RT)
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