Spirit of Sport Blog

Ryan Murphy: 3 Foods that are Better than an Energy Drink
Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy shares how he gets an energy boost without using energy drinks, through a food-first approach.

Athlete Advisory: 2021 Rules Now in Effect
Athlete are advised that the 2021 WADA Prohibited List and the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code are now in effect.

Athletes and Ketones: Frequently Asked Questions
For athletes subject to anti-doping rules, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about ketones.

Trevon Jenifer: 3 Foods to Avoid for More Energy
Paralympian Trevon Jenifer knows a food-first approach is the best way to fuel for his training. Here he share’s three foods to avoid for more energy.

Staying Healthy Around the Holidays with Mandy Marquardt
USA Cycling National Team member Mandy Marquardt shares how she eats healthy during the holidays, while managing diabetes.

Athlete Advisory: Key Changes to the World Anti-Doping Code
While there are many changes reflected in the 2021 WADA Code, here are some of the key changes that athletes should be aware of below.

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.

Athlete Advisory: 2021 Rules Now in Effect
Athlete are advised that the 2021 WADA Prohibited List and the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code are now in effect.

Athletes and Ketones: Frequently Asked Questions
For athletes subject to anti-doping rules, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about ketones.

Athlete Advisory: Key Changes to the World Anti-Doping Code
While there are many changes reflected in the 2021 WADA Code, here are some of the key changes that athletes should be aware of below.

Substances of Abuse 101
New to the 2021 WADA Prohibited List is Substances of Abuse, which are substances prohibited in-competition and frequently abused in society.

Athlete Advisory: Explanation of Key Changes on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List
For the 2021 Prohibited List, WADA made several changes that could impact athletes’ use of substances and treatments.

Athlete Responsibilities and Failures to Comply with Sample Collection
What athletes need to know about their responsibilities during sample collection and what may be considered a failure to comply.

Ryan Murphy: 3 Foods that are Better than an Energy Drink
Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy shares how he gets an energy boost without using energy drinks, through a food-first approach.

Trevon Jenifer: 3 Foods to Avoid for More Energy
Paralympian Trevon Jenifer knows a food-first approach is the best way to fuel for his training. Here he share’s three foods to avoid for more energy.

Staying Healthy Around the Holidays with Mandy Marquardt
USA Cycling National Team member Mandy Marquardt shares how she eats healthy during the holidays, while managing diabetes.

Chuck Aoki: Top 5 Foods for Getting the Vitamin D You Need
To get the vitamins that Paralympian Chuck Aoki needs to perform his best, including vitamin D, he relies on foods that have lots of nutrients.

5 Sweet Treats that Keep Olympian Laurie Hernandez Fueled and Feeling Good
Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez shares the five sweet treats she incorporates into her food first approach to nutrition.

Nathan Chen: How to Start the Morning Strong with Food
Figure skater Nathan Chen usually trains in the morning and knows that without a good breakfast, he’ll start the day lagging and generally fatigued.

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.

The PCC and the Big Three: Breath, Plasma, and IRMS Steroidome
The PCC has invested in three projects that have the potential to significantly impact anti-doping testing and analysis in order to improve both detection and deterrence of performance-enhancing drugs. Learn more about the projects.

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.

USADA in the Community: World Race and CASA
Many members of the USADA staff are dedicated to serving their communities through volunteer work with diverse organizations and causes.