from Dr. John Berardi,

Nowadays when we hear about elite athletes testing positive for banned substances, we brace ourselves for the denials, we prepare ourselves for shifting blame – you know, the faulty testing protocols, or the contaminated supplements.

And, rightfully, we’re skeptical.  We assume that testing positive means cheating.  That these supplement stories are tall tales put in place to cast doubt.  So that cheaters can pull one over on juries, and on the public.

Could Your Supplements Be Tainted?

But what if some of the convicted cheaters didn’t cheat?  What if it was a nutritional supplement?  Sound far-fetched?  Well one glance at this information below might change your mind…

2001 Study
In 2001, over 630 nutritional supplements, purchased online and at local supplement stores, were tested for banned substances.  Over 25% of them were contaminated – either intentionally or unintentionally.

2005 Study
In 2005 a follow up study looked at another 60 supplements, purchased in the same way as those above.  Again, over 22% of them contained banned substances.

2006 Olympics
In 2006, the entire Greek Olympic Weightlifting team was banned from the Summer Olympic Games because one of their supplement sponsors inadvertently supplied them with tainted supplements.

Think this couldn’t happen to you? Well, that’s what Serge Depres, a top bobsleigh pilot for team Canada thought when he wandered into a local (and well-known) sports nutrition store.

As a result of that fateful trip, Serge was suspended from competition for 2 years because he took an amino acid supplement and a HMB supplement that were actually BOTH tainted with anabolic steroids.

I know, I know. Some of you are still skeptical.  He must have done something wrong.

But let me assure you.  Dr. John Berardi personally saw the lab results.  He even testified at both of Serge’s hearings.  Serge never intended to “cheat.”  And he certainly didn’t deserve a 2 year ban.  But that’s exactly what he got.  For taking BCAAs and HMB, two supplements most sports nutritionists frequently recommend.

Check out Serge Depres’ tragic story below:

Again, Do you know what’s in your supplements?  Where they’re coming from?

Athlon Elite takes every effort to research and identify the authenticity and safety of the supplements we sell and recommend.  Feel free to discuss your supplement needs with one of our trainers, they’ll be sure to steer you in the right direction.

Athlon Elite Sports Performance