Caffeine. Is it banned for athletes?
I keep on getting this query from many parents and athletes whether caffeine is prohibited for athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has released its 2018 List of Prohibited Substances. This list shall come into effect on 1 January for the 2018 Monitoring Program, not much has changed. Caffeine is still part of the monitoring program.
Brief history: Caffeine was considered as banned substance at the Olympics for many years. In 2004, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA**) removed caffeine from banned list considering the fact that millions of people enjoy caffeine as part of their normal lives (coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks with caffeine in them) not directly as a way to boost their performance in sport.
Recommended Dosage: 1 to 3 mg caffeine per kg body weight is considered safe for adults. Such moderate dosages can be found in everyday amounts of coffee, tea, cold drinks, chocolates and some sports products (e.g., gels). For example, 60-80 mg of caffeine is supplied by a small cup of espresso coffee or 400 ml of a cola drink.
Excess intake of caffeine (e.g. 9 mg per kg body weight) can result in side effects like jitteriness, nervousness, insomnia, headache, dizziness, and gastrointestinal distress, which can obviously have a detrimental effect on performance.
Side Effects of Caffeine if taken more than recommended:
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Dehydration
Restlessness, anxiety & irritability
Headaches
High blood pressure
Interference with recovery and sleep patterns
Abnormal heartbeat
Increased muscle tension
Reference: Caffeine presence in various drinks referred from Nestle India site.
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