Some sports nutrition supplements may lead to stronger acceptance of doping, suggests study

12 Oct 2020 --- Athletes using medical and performance enhancing, or ergogenic, sport supplements were found to show “more favorable attitudes” toward doping than non-users in a new Elsevier-published study. However, sports drink and superfood users did not report any differences in attitudes to doping than non-users.

Study co-author Philip Hurst tells NutritionInsight that such supplement usage itself does not necessarily lead to more favorable doping attitudes. Rather, it is the underlying reason for its use.

“A large body of research has shown that the effectiveness of sports supplements are not necessarily because of the actual sports supplement, but because of the belief that it can improve performance. These beliefs are underpinned by the placebo effect, which can significantly improve sports performance.” 

Over time, these beliefs can develop the attitude that doping is an acceptable and appropriate method in which to improve performance, he flags.

The details in the data
The study researchers recruited 583 athletes from team (78 percent) and individual (22 percent) sports, who competed at club (26 percent), county (37 percent), national (28 percent) and international (9 percent) level.

About half of the athletes used sports supplements, with 42 percent using ergogenic supplements, 21 percent using sports food and drinks, 18 percent using medical supplements and 2 percent using superfoods.

Sports supplement use was grouped into the following types: 

• Ergogenic: Amino acids, creatine, sodium bicarbonate.
• Medical: Calcium, iron, probiotics.
• Sports food and drinks: Sports drinks, sports gels, sports bars.
• Superfoods: Herbs, goji berries, maca. 

Justified on the grounds of functionality, doping was regarded as more favorable among athletes using ergogenic and medical sports supplements. The research team used the Sports Supplements Beliefs Scale (SSBS) to measure participants’ beliefs in sports supplements’ effectiveness to support performance.

Participants were provided with statements such as “sports supplements improve my performance” or “sports supplements improve my confidence” and asked to indicate their responses on a six-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree).

In terms of beliefs about the effectiveness of supplements, SSBS scores were higher for users of ergogenic supplements than non-users. In contrast, scores for beliefs in the effectiveness of sports supplements were similar for users and non-users of superfoods.

Attitudes on doping per subgroup
Both ergogenic and medical sports supplement use had a medium-to-large indirect relationship to doping attitudes via sport supplement beliefs. However, ergogenic supplementation did not show a direct effect on doping attitudes, while medical sports supplementation did.

Athletes using such sports supplements are more likely to use these for a performance advantage or to facilitate their recovery so they can train harder for longer, says Hurst. 

“These reasons can lead to the belief that for an athlete to improve performance, using performance-enhancing methods is necessary. As a result, this belief over time, can develop the attitude that doping is an acceptable and appropriate method in which to improve performance.” 

Meanwhile, sports food and drink supplement use was not directly related to doping attitudes but was indirectly related to doping attitudes via sport supplement beliefs. Superfood supplement use had no direct effect on doping attitudes.

“It is likely that athletes do not see [superfoods] as ‘sport supplements.’ Cherry juice and goji berries may be used as part of a balanced diet, so athletes may not have reported these as sport supplements. I would imagine these are suitable for sports nutrition as long as there is a genuine reason for their use,” notes Hurst. 

Overall, sports supplements are the “tip of the iceberg” for improving sports performance and athletes should look to develop more [physically] sustainable and longer-lasting performance improvements such as training programs, diet and sleep.”

Controversies on sports performance boosts recently hit the spotlight with ketone esters being used by some Tour de France cyclists. Meanwhile, the sports nutrition category continues to evolve to address current consumer needs and expectations, including clean label and plant-based solutions. 

Educate the athlete
Hurst sees education as the cornerstone of preventing doping in sport, but education alone will not suffice. 

Sports supplements for sports performance are the “tip of the iceberg” and Hurst encourages athletes to develop longer-lasting performance improvements such as diet and sleep.“Preventing an athlete from doping is far more effective than discouraging an athlete who is already doping. There needs to be a concerted effort between various types of prevention, for example, detection (urine tests) and deterrence (banned from sports for four years) methods.”

Moreover, doping is a “multi-faceted problem” that should be aimed at sports supplement use, anti-doping rules and regulations and morality. “If we can develop an athlete’s morality, alongside educating them about the need to use sports supplements, this could prevent an athlete from doping.”

When asked what responsibility sport supplement companies have in preventing doping, Hurst notes that the companies that create such products are “not necessarily” aimed at athletes. 

“They are aimed at the general population, who are motivated to improve their appearance – for example protein shakes to increase muscle mass – or function at work – caffeine to improve concentration.” 

Instead, he names sport national governing bodies as responsible for “ensuring they educate athletes from a young age about sports supplements to help them make a more informed decision.” 

By Anni Schleicher