Sports Supplement Analysis Survey for the Prevalence of WADA Prohibited Substances in the Australian Online Marketplace

Abstract

Sports supplements are used extensively by people involved in competitive sports. However, a proportion of sports supplements contain World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited Substances, which have the potential to cause an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). In 2022, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) contracted Human and Supplements Testing Australia (HASTA) to purchase and analyse 200 sports supplement products available in the Australian online marketplace. The aim of the survey was to determine the likelihood of purchasing a product containing one or more WADA Prohibited Substances. Of the 200 products purchased, 35% contained WADA Prohibited Substances, with the majority of these findings being stimulants. Products marketed as pre-workouts, fat burners and muscle builders were the most likely to contain prohibited substances. It is notable that 83% of the WADA Prohibited Substances detected were naturally occurring compounds; only two of the products contained high levels of synthetic stimulants. Fifty-seven percent of the products that contained WADA Prohibited Substances did not have the substances labelled as ingredients on the packaging or website. Athlete education concerning sports supplements should remain a high priority, with a prevalence rate of approximately one in three products purchased containing WADA Prohibited Substances. To reduce the risk of an inadvertent ADRV, if an athlete wishes to use sports supplements, they should consult with their medical practitioner or accredited sports dietician (ASD) as to whether they require them and, if so, only take products that have been independently tested.