Supplementation plays a very specific role in an athlete’s nutritional plan. All athletes utilise supplementation to improve performance and recovery during competition and training and as a convenient addition to a healthy diet, or to make up calorific shortfalls. The nutritional needs of any individual can theoretically be obtained by consuming natural foods. However, the reality is that the nutritional requirements of elite athletes are significantly greater than their sedentary or recreationally active counterparts. As such, it is difficult for the elite athlete to ingest their full nutritional requirements using normal foods due to:
- The length of time required to prepare meals.
- Sub-optimal rates of digestion and absorption of whole food in comparison to supplements during competition.
- Difficulty timing meals to co-incide with the optimal post training window.
- Difficulty obtaining nutrients without increasing fat or caloric intake excessively.
Supplements therefore offer a more convenient and often a more effective solution than whole foods at specific feeding times. Supplement used strategically by athletes at all levels of competition are therefore likely to increase as our lives become more congested and the higher demand of sporting performance continues to increase.
Elite and professional level athletes mostly participate in sports that are regulated by The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which promotes, coordinates and monitors the fight against doping in sport in all its forms. Most sporting codes adhere to the WADA code of conduct with regards to banned and prohibited substances, a fundamental and universal document upon which the World Anti-Doping Program in sport is based. The WADA code places strict liability on the athlete. It is therefore the athlete’s onus to ensure that they do not ingest any substances which are prohibited by WADA.
As from 1 January 2017 Oxilofrine (methylsynephrine), as contained in Advantra Z® and other Citrus Aurantium versions, is on the WADA prohibited substance list (sports banned substances). Please refrain from using products containing Advantra Z® if you are a professional athlete who gets tested by the Anti-doping Agency.