CON-CRĒT Concentrated Creatine Blog

 How to Stay Clear of Sports Supplements with Hidden Banned Substances

 Whether you are 22 years old playing a college sport, or 42 years old working out in your local gym, how do you know whether the sport supplement you are taking to enhance your physical performance doesn’t have traces of a banned substance, such as a steroid?  The answer to this question is critical for a high-school, college, or professional athlete due to drug-testing protocols that could render them ineligible.  In addition, the health risks, including aggression, depression, stunted growth, high blood pressure and damage to heart and blood vessels, and increased risks of cancers (the list goes on) are as equally important, especially to the middle-aged fit and active individual.   

 A number of college, professional and amateur athletes are suspended every season for steroid and stimulant use.  Some knowingly taking these compounds, but many are victims of a dietary supplement that was pronounced safe but actually contained traces of steroids or other banned substances.  One might ask why an athlete would risk their athletic career and/or livelihood (not to mention their health), rather than just avoid the use of performance enhancement supplements altogether, especially since there is a known risk of unreported substances in many of these products.

As cited in the July/August issue of “SoBeFit,” a sports and nutrition magazine based in Miami, FL, a study at the University of Illinois found that the use of sports supplements is approximately 50% within the general population, and 76% among college athletes in the U.S.  In addition, a German study published in the “International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism” found that 80% of all athletes reported using at least one supplement.

 Of course these supplements mentioned above can range from sports drinks to energy bars to dietary and sports supplements.  But the bottom line is that athletes in today’s society feel constant pressure to perform their ultimate best and to look good!  We are also conditioned to instant gratification — “a quick fix” — with technology at our finger tips, cosmetic surgery as a common practice, and finally popping a pill for better results in athletic performance.  But the key is to be smart in your choices.  The human body produces steroids (hormones) naturally for promoting growth and development, however people use steroid pills, gels, creams, or injections because they think these extra synthetic steroids can take them to the next level in strength, performance and the way they look (muscle mass).  

 In the same issue of “SoBeFit,” Dr. Jose Antonio, a research advocate in the field of performance nutrition, is quoted stating how “Millions of people have used sports supplements over the past 50 years.  There are so few negatives to using them, rather there is so much more evidence showing how they can help you.”

Even athletes as young as high school are dabbling in these products.  The New York Times just reported an investigation into two OTC (over-the-counter) dietary supplements that anti-doping officials say have been popular with high school football players: TrenXtreme and Mass Xtreme, manufactured by American Cell Labs and marketed as a “potent legal alternative to steroids”.  It was found that these two products indeed contain synthetic steroids.  As mentioned in this article, investigators had grown concerned over sports products made by American Cellular Labs after the FDA received reports of severe liver and kidney damage in people who had used these products.

One might ask why these companies play around with steroids in their products when they know it’s not legal or safe.  The temptation for these companies is so great because the results of steroid products have shown to really work in sports performance, giving significant benefits in muscle mass, strength and endurance.  Also, supplement companies are not closely regulated by FDA and therefore they don’t worry about getting approvals on many of the statements or claims made, nor do they need to prove any scientific testing.  The only time the FDA gets involved is when there is a serious adverse reaction/death or evidence of a controlled substance (like steroids) present – then the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is called in.  But because there is little testing and regulating involved, little is known about the long-term effects that these products may have on the athlete’s health.  This is one big reason why the government took action to protect citizens by passing laws that control steroid availability and distribution.  Also, most sports organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, the NCAA, Major League Baseball, the NFL and others consider it unethical to use drugs to enhance performance.

With all of this negative attention in the news regarding the makers of sports supplements, the “good guys,” companies who are meeting compliance standards and have taken steps to ensure testing for safety and toxicity, are often overlooked.  Some of these companies have made huge strides in creating highly effective sports performance products, such as a pure concentrated creatine, that gives the same, if not better results in building muscle mass, strength, and endurance as compared to the tainted companies selling contaminated or “spiked” products, who keep dominating the news. 

Creatines such as CON-CRET, are a permissible sport supplement that will not cause someone to test positive for banned substances under amateur or professional organizations guidelines.  They not only help with strength but also assist with muscle recovery.  They offer an athlete the competitive edge they are looking for, in a safe, natural product.  They give steroid-like results but are safe and legal.

What you should look for when purchasing a Sports Supplement:

• Do not use body building products marketed as containing steroids, steroid-like substances, or that claim to alter the hormone (testosterone) profile of the consumer. 
• Avoid products where companies have made claims or statements “to good to be true.” Make sure any claims made are backed by science!
• Companies do not always disclose all the ingredients on their labels.  Beware! — If the label reads “Proprietary blend” it can mean anything is present, even banned ingredients or levels of legal substances that are deemed illegal for competition.
• Read the labels carefully! Products should not require sugars, additives, stimulants or excipients to perform.  The product in its purest form should work well and stand on its own.
• Make sure the products you are taking comply with all drug and supplement standards issued by professional and amateur athletic organizations.  Does the company have an IOC (International Olympic Committee) profile (against banned substances) on their website?
• Make sure the products were manufactured according to cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and have QC / QA processes for safety and purity.  Does the company have an Assay Report of analysis performed?