Olympic doping list bans common items

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Ten years ago, Todd Hays walked into what many thought would be a routine press conference at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

But the bobsledder and Del Rio, Texas native threw energy bars, sports drinks, and other items on the table before him and then blasted the International Olympic Committee for the way they handle banned substance testing.

“Why won’t the (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) and why won’t the IOC inform athletes of products they know are tainted?” said Hays who was protesting the two-year ban of teammate Pavle Jovanovic after he tested positive for a banned substance.

From Ben Johnson to Marion Jones to the 14 athletes who have tested positive in the London 2012 games.

Doping controversies at the Olympics are as old as the Olympic Games themselves.

The casual fan hears about disqualifications due to banned substances and likely thinks of anabolic steroids or performance enhancing drugs.

But they may not realize the substances that lead to controversy are the same substances they could be consuming regularly.

“It is really scary,” said Olympian Leo Manzano, a former University of Texas track star who is competing in the 1500m at London. “Because there could be stuff in anything.”

The drug testing at the Olympic Games is among the most stringent you will see at any level of athletic competition.

And the list of substances you are not allowed to take stretch as long as a track meet.

“I know we cannot take Tylenol. We have to take ibuprofen, there is stuff in Tylenol we cannot have,” said Manzano.

Pseudoephedrine, the ingredient found in many over-the county cold and cough medicines, is on the banned substance list.

Those quick “pick me up” energy drinks could also derail a gold medal dream.

USADA has a guide to the drinks they refer to as “stimulant drinks” on their website which breaks down the ingredients and what they may be labeled as on the back of a can.

Even something as innocent as a hamburger could contain something illegal.

“A huge percentage of the food we get is coming from other countries that do not have the regulations that we do,” said UT sports dietician Amy Culp.

Livestock in some parts of the world is shot with the steroid clenbuterol, a substance banned in Olympic competition.

Culp says knowing where your food comes from is the key to staying clean.

“I like to look for one locations where it is sourced from,” said Culp. “It increases multiple risks when you have multiple places where you are getting the beef.”

Both Culp and Manzano say coaches play a huge part in keeping an athlete on the right side of a drug test.

USADA offers many tips about the drug testing process which can take place often.

“Within the last month, I’ve probably been drug tested six or seven times,” said Manzano who will compete in the 1500 meter Olympic final on Tuesday.

The tests can come randomly at any time or place.

Manzano said he was once approached while on a date.

“That was a little awkward.”

Supplements sold at nutrition stores are also a concern and Culp says although you may not be competing at the Olympics, the average person should still be educated about potentially harmful ingredients.

“If it says it is a fat burner or a muscle builder, there is a higher risk it will have something not listed on the label that is not safe,” said Culp who also discussed other red flags.

“If it has an ingredient that ends in numbers or sounds like a hormone. If it ends in ‘-ol’ or ‘-ole.’”