Spirit of Sport Blog
Baking as an Athlete: Paralympian Dana Mathewson’s Tips for Healthier Desserts
Paralympian Dana Mathewson shares the tips and tricks she uses to satisfy her sweet tooth to create and bake healthier desserts.
Q&A on Transgender Athletes and USADA
USADA has a responsibility to support, educate and test all athletes regardless of gender. Here, we address specific processes regarding transgender athletes.
How Aaron Tran Incorporates Carbs: An Olympian’s Guide to Daily Carb Intake
Olympic short track speedskater, Aaron Tran, knows that his carb intake after practice is very important for a good recovery.
Athlete Advisory: Explanation of Key Changes on 2022 WADA Prohibited List
The 2022 List includes several changes that athletes should be aware of in case the changes impact their use of substances and treatments.
Olympian Susan Dunklee’s Top Three Plant-Based Alternatives
Two-time Olympian in biathlon, Susan Dunklee, shares the plant-based alternatives she eats to fuel her body.
Are Magic Mushrooms Prohibited for Athletes?
Here is what drug-tested athletes need to know about the anti-doping status of magic mushrooms.
Taking a Stand for Clean Sport as an Active Athlete
Lilly King explains how she hopes to inspire and help more active athletes take a stand for clean sport at the peak of their influence in sport.
Moving Forward: Kara Goucher’s Ongoing Fight for Clean Sport
Kara Goucher speaks about her ongoing fight for clean sport and why it’s important for all those who believe in the integrity of sport to take a stand.
Abby Raymond: Supplement Safety is Never Guaranteed
See Abby Raymond tell her story about how a contaminated supplement put her hard work, reputation, and goals in jeopardy.
Shalane Flanagan: Losing Big Moments to Dopers
A four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, and New York City Marathon winner, Shalane Flanagan has had a wildly successful career in track and field and could have even more accolades to her name and priceless moments in her memory…if not for athletes who’ve used performance-enhancing drugs to gain an advantage in sport.
Three-Time Paralympian Steve Serio on Innovation in Anti-Doping
Three-time Paralympian Steve Serio talks about how his need for an athletic outlet led him to the Paralympic stage and the evolution in anti-doping.
Why Take the Risk: An Athlete’s Perspective on Cannabinoids
Two-time Paralympian Tyler Cater took some time to speak with USADA about how he approaches competing clean & cannabinoids as a busy athlete based in Colorado.
Q&A on Transgender Athletes and USADA
USADA has a responsibility to support, educate and test all athletes regardless of gender. Here, we address specific processes regarding transgender athletes.
Athlete Advisory: Explanation of Key Changes on 2022 WADA Prohibited List
The 2022 List includes several changes that athletes should be aware of in case the changes impact their use of substances and treatments.
Are Magic Mushrooms Prohibited for Athletes?
Here is what drug-tested athletes need to know about the anti-doping status of magic mushrooms.
Food v. Supplements: Are foods safer than supplements?
Foods are much less likely to cause a positive drug test than supplements due to the nature of food regulations and the food industry.
What Should Athletes Know about DHEA?
While not included under the Controlled Substances Act, athletes should know that DHEA is considered a prohibited anabolic agent in sport.
6 Things to Know About Letrozole
Even substances in prescription medications used to fight breast cancer, like letrozole, may be abused to enhance performance.
Baking as an Athlete: Paralympian Dana Mathewson’s Tips for Healthier Desserts
Paralympian Dana Mathewson shares the tips and tricks she uses to satisfy her sweet tooth to create and bake healthier desserts.
How Aaron Tran Incorporates Carbs: An Olympian’s Guide to Daily Carb Intake
Olympic short track speedskater, Aaron Tran, knows that his carb intake after practice is very important for a good recovery.
Olympian Susan Dunklee’s Top Three Plant-Based Alternatives
Two-time Olympian in biathlon, Susan Dunklee, shares the plant-based alternatives she eats to fuel her body.
Do Athletes Eat Dairy? How Paralympian Rico Roman Does Dairy
Paralympic gold medalist, Rico Roman, shares how he includes dairy in his food-first approach to fueling for training.
Natural Products Derived from Plants and Animals
The use of any natural product is at the athlete’s own risk, whether it is used as a dietary supplement or as an alternative medicine.
Amara Mbionwu’s Favorite High-Protein Snacks
Protein allows Amara Mbionwu to manage her hunger levels by reducing her cravings for potentially unhealthy snacks between meals.
Substance Profile: Caffeine
Caffeine is currently on WADA’s monitoring list which means it is not prohibited but it may become an anti-doping issue in the future.
Substance Profile: Spironolactone is Prohibited in Sport
Subject to anti-doping rules? always check the prohibited status of medications, even if prescribed for a condition unrelated to athletic performance.
Dried Blood Spot (DBS) Testing – Athlete Q & A
USADA has launched a pilot program for a new blood collection process designed to improve the athlete experience, enable more blood collections, and increase sample longevity.
The Role of Science in Anti-Doping
Science plays a crucial role in in the fight for clean sport and USADA’s team of experts play a major role in applying and growing the field of anti-doping science, which brings together toxicology, pharmacology, clinical chemistry, and biological sciences.
Protecting Athletes and Consumers: USADA’s Fight Against Supplement Risks
By supporting legislation and initiatives to protect athletes and consumers, USADA has demonstrated its commitment to educate athletes & consumers about supplement risks.
DCO Insights: TAP Testing at the Boston Marathon
USADA Doping Control Officers share their experiences with the TAP device, athletes’ feedback on the new blood collection process, and what the device means for clean sport.
Meet Nzingha Prescod: Two-Time Olympic Fencer and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Olympic fencer Nzingha Prescod, will draw on her experience to explain the importance of anti-doping rules to today’s athletes.
Q&A with USADA DCO Ann Miller: What are Chaperones?
In this interview, USADA Doping Control Officer (DCO) Ann Miller explains the role and importance of chaperones in the testing process.
USADA Staff Take on Dual Roles to Better Understand the Athlete Experience
USADA has launched a program that gives office staff members the opportunity to also work as Doping Control Officers (DCOs).
Meet Tyler George: Olympic Curler and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Olympic curler Tyler George hopes to help athletes view anti-doping as a shared responsibility that can lead to a level playing field for all athletes.
Meet Amanda Elmore: Olympic Rower and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Amanda Elmore impresses the importance of a level playing field on the next generation of elite athletes as a USADA Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter.
Get to Know Your DCO: Arnold Thomas
Learn more about one of USADA’s most veteran Doping Control Officers (DCOs) and Regional Team Leads (RTLs), Arnold Thomas.