ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the use of supplements in sport and discusses the challenges to athletes, their support staff and anti-doping organisations in allowing legitimate use, yet preventing indiscriminate use and ensuring the World Anti-Doping Program is both credible and operational. Many sports supplements have been found to be affected by contamination due to sub-optimal manufacturing and quality control procedures. Adulteration of sports supplements during the manufacturing process may provide enhanced ergogenic properties to otherwise innocuous products through the addition of a prohibited substance. The chapter reviews several herbal supplements to highlight the link between what might be deemed natural, safe supplements and potentially hazardous doping agents. Supplements promoted as testosterone boosters typically contain prohormones, however natural testosterone boosters include several herbs that allegedly increase circulating testosterone via other mechanisms. Clearly, enhanced testosterone levels offer the potential for increased muscle bulk and function.
