On November 7, representatives from RUSADA and the Association of Manufacturers of Dietary Supplements (henceforth referred to as the "Association") met.
The meeting was attended by:
- Veronika Loginova, Director General of RUSADA
- Nikolay Kondakov, Head of the Scientific Department of RUSADA
- Alexander Zhestkov, Executive Director of the Association
- Ivan Dyndikov, Development Director of the Association.
During the meeting, they discussed amendments to the legislation regarding the regulation of dietary supplements, as well as joint efforts to inform stakeholders about the current situation on the market for dietary supplements.
RUSADA regularly warns athletes about the risks associated with the use of dietary supplements. A study conducted at the Department of Sports Medicine at the Russian University of Sport "GTSOLIFK" found that between 10% and 58% of dietary supplements may contain substances prohibited in sports, including anabolic androgenic steroids and stimulants, which are commonly found in these products.
"Athletes' health is our top priority. The presence of prohibited substances in dietary supplements, which are not indicated on the packaging, poses a significant risk to athletes' health, as well as their careers and reputation. Recently, we have recorded nine cases of detection of these prohibited substances in supplements and sports nutrition products. The laboratory has detected the presence of sibutramine in a tea sample submitted for analysis, which is outrageous since athletes are responsible for what they consume. We want to support our athletes and are preparing a series of proposals to strengthen controls over the production and distribution of dietary supplements”, - Veronika Loginova, Director General of RUSADA, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of athletes by implementing strict regulations and controls on dietary supplements. Despite the ongoing labeling campaign in Russia to regulate the market, there is still a need for improved monitoring and enforcement of regulations.
"There is a vast amount of substandard products circulating in marketplaces today. These products often contain dangerous ingredients and even prescription drugs, - Director of Development at SP Dietary Supplements Ivan Dyndikov said . – The scale and threat to consumer health is significant, with around 50,000 products on each major marketplace that have not passed quality and safety testing. This means that these products do not have the necessary documentation or labeling, which prevents them from being sold in pharmacies. However, they are still available for sale on e-commerce platforms”.
RUSADA reminds athletes that some products may contain undisclosed or illegal substances as a result of unethical manufacturing or marketing practices. They should be aware of the risk of receiving a positive doping test due to the contamination of dietary supplements with substances prohibited in sports. Remember the principle of strict liability: athletes are responsible for everything they put into their bodies.