Mexico City 2017 : meat warning for competitors / International Paralympic Committee (IPC). - Bonn : IPC, 2017
Mexico City 2017: meat warning for competitors
Contaminated meat could lead to positive doping tests at World Championships.
World Para powerlifting and World Para swimming would like to warn athletes traveling to Mexico City about the dangers of eating contaminated meat.
Clenbuterol is a powerful drug sometimes used for performance-enhancement by athletes to increase lean muscle mass and reduce body fat. Clenbuterol is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and is classified under the category of other Anabolic Agents.
There have been reports of clenbuterol use to promote growth in livestock, including cattle, lamb, poultry and swine. Consistent with numerous prior reported cases globally, the issue of illicit administration of clenbuterol to animals destined for food production can result in, under specific conditions, a positive sample from an athlete. WADA has issued specific warnings about this problem in China and Mexico (see references below). Unfortunately, anti-doping authorities have no control over agricultural and food safety practices in these countries, and inadvertent ingestion remains an ongoing issue for athletes.
Both the hotels and the venues where the athletes will be staying will not serve meat (beef or pork). However fish and other low risk options (e.g. chicken) will be available. Athletes must use the utmost care and caution if eating meat while traveling abroad, and should be aware of the potential for contamination.
To reduce the risk of unintentionally ingesting clenbuterol through contaminated meat:
• Choose foods from a reputable food source.
• Avoid eating liver or liver derived products while overseas.
• Avoid eating unusual or exotic meat products.
Athletes are encouraged to keep a detailed dietary journal while travelling to Mexico and China which may be helpful in recalling the details of specific meat ingestion should it be required to assist in results management.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Clenbuterol is a non-threshold non-specified substance, meaning that any amount of Clenbuterol detected in an athlete urine sample is reported as a positive test. Thus, it’s important to note that strict liability dictates an athlete has ultimate responsibility for what is in his/her system, regardless of its origin.
World Para powerlifting and World Para swimming will continue to keep the teams aware of new developments regarding this issue should they develop prior to the Championships.
