Blair Trewin and John Harding attended a briefing today by the head of ASADA on the major things ASADA is involved in. The number one message is that athletes should be encouraged to improve through training and skills development, and to avoid taking supplements, especially if they come from the USA, China or Thailand. An analysis of supplements from these countries found that over 60% contained traces of one or more performance enhancing banned drugs, even in some simple multi-vitamin supplements. There is information on the AIS website on which supplements have been checked for safe use.

ASADA also advised that

“the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today released the 2014 Prohibited List, which will come into effect on 1 January 2014.

To give you a chance to familiarise yourself with the List, WADA has published it on their website along with a summary of major modifications and details on the 2014 monitoring program.

ASADA encourages your organisation to ensure that your state affiliates, athletes, team managers, medical officials and other support persons are aware of the new List, and remind athletes it is their responsibility to check the status of any medication or substance prior to use.”