Sport

For anyone who is serious about sport, it is vital to be aware that it’s not just the serious performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids that can get you banned for life. Many simple over the counter remedies for colds and hay fever contain substances which are on The Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is an internationally accepted standard for substances and methods which are banned for sports people during training and or competition. The list is managed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and is updated annually.

However, the list can be difficult to understand and the small print used for ingredient lists on medication packaging equally hard to interpret. The advice from many of the major sporting establishments is simple – check every single product before you take it, even if you have taken it before. It is important to note that products obtained abroad may contain different ingredients to the UK equivalent. If in doubt, do not take anything until you have it confirmed that it is safe to do so – ignorance is not a defence. The complete prohibited list can be found at: www.wada-ama.org

WADA guidance is clear:
'The athlete is responsible and strictly liable whenever a prohibited substance is found in their bodily specimen'.

So it makes sense to take advice before you take a risk. But how do you know what’s safe to take and what’s not?

 

Chemist On Call can help you Play Safe

Our experienced team of pharmacists and nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide you with speedy advice and information to help you make sense of your medication queries.

As an athlete you may be randomly or actively selected for a drug screen at anytime. It is the personal responsibility of every athlete to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body whether by mouth, injection or cream – even dietary supplements need to be checked. Your GP may be aware of the list of prohibited substances but he may not be aware of potential problems with products for self-medication.

Looking after your own medication is a daunting task. You and your trainer need to be completely confident that whatever you are administering to your body in training or in competition is safe, effective and 100% legal. Chemist On Call can offer you a 24 hour, 7 days a week service that gives you this advice clearly, concisely and most importantly, quickly.

Our pharmacists will check your medication and we will supply you with a faxed confirmation report on all the medications or supplements you are taking or are proposing to take. Furthermore, if our advice is that a product is unsuitable for you to take, we will supply you with the name of an effective alternative that is safe for you to take.

If you have any doubts that a product is safe prior to a medication check, we would always advise that you do not take it. Don't jeopardise your sporting career - check with Chemist On Call first and gain the reassurance and peace of mind that comes with up to the minute information from our team of experienced pharmacists.