Supplements 'may cause drug failures'

The scientists' findings could have huge implications

Legitimate food supplements may be responsible for the spate of positive drug tests for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone, research has suggested.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)-sanctioned laboratory in Cologne did tests on around 100 food supplements.

It found substances on 16 occasions that would lead to adverse nandrolone findings.

Professor Wilhelm Schaencer led the research.

He told The Independent newspaper: "The data we have gathered over the last two years clearly indicates that nutritional supplements can be cross-contaminated by pro-hormones which the body metabolises to create nandrolone."

The supplements tested in Cologne, which were bought in Europe and the US, did not include nandrolone or related compounds among their listed ingredients.

If in doubt, don't take it

  David Moorcroft
Chief executive, UK Athletics

Christophe Dugarry, the French international footballer, former Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, and Olympic gold medallists Linford Christie and Dieter Baumann are among those to have tested positive for nandrolone in the past three years.

At least some of them may be helped by the new findings.

In total, Olympic drug testing laboratories reported 343 positive tests for nandrolone in 1999, the last year for which figures are available.

"Any athlete who feels the need to take supplements has got to be certain that they are clear of any suspicious ingredient," said David Moorcroft, the chief executive of UK Athletics.

"If in doubt, don't take it," he added.

One athlete using the "contamination theory" as part of her defence against a possible two-year doping ban is German javelin thrower Carolyn Soboll.

Athletes like Christie could be vindicated by the new research

Soboll has been cleared of drugs charges by the DLV, the German national federation.

She now awaits a decision of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) as to whether her case needs to be referred to an arbitration hearing.

Baumann found that his toothpaste had been contaminated, Christie maintained that he never used food supplements and British 400 metres runner Mark Richardson could find no remnants of the supplements he used to undergo analysis.

The IAAF maintains a rule of "strict liability", which says that the athlete is fully responsible for what is found in their body.

However, the IAAF Council can waive a full ban under its "special circumstances" rule.