Caffeine and Anti-Doping-Scottish Orienteering

Caffeine and Anti-Doping

Does Anti-Doping Affect Me?
If you are a member of the Elite Squad at any level, run the elite courses in the UK, or want to compete on the international circuit, it will affect you. For more information on who it affects, check out the British Orienteering Anti-Doping site.

Can I have a coffee / energy drink?

In 2004 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed caffeine from the Prohibited List. This means that you can have your cups of coffee and energy drinks before, during or after an event or training session without fear of a positive drug test.

What changed their mind?

A number of factors influence WADA’s stakeholders to take caffeine off the list, including:
1. Researchers found that caffeine can potentially be performance-decreasing above the 12 microgram/ml threshold which was historically used in sport.
2. Everybody metabolises caffeine at very different rates.
3. Reduction of the 12 microgram/ml threshold might create the risk of sanctioning athletes for social or diet consumption of caffeine as caffeine is present in a large number of beverages and food.

Could caffeine return to the Prohibited List?

Yes – currently caffeine is part of WADA’s Monitoring Program. This program includes substances which are not prohibited in sport, but which WADA monitors in order to detect patterns of misuse in sport. The 2010 Monitoring Program did not reveal global patterns of misuse of caffeine in sport. Caffeine will remain part of the Monitoring Program in 2011.
For more information about caffeine, and other drug related questions please refer to the WADA website.
Test your Anti-Doping knowledge throught the online Quiz.

Photo of author Posted on 15th May 11
by Adam Hunter - Sports Science Co-ordinator