Spirit of Sport Blog
What to Eat and What to Avoid Before Training
You’ve probably noticed that what you eat before training can affect the way you’re able to perform. The general guidelines for healthy eating, like focusing on high fiber and looking for high quality sources of protein, don’t always apply when we get within 60-90 minutes of training. In fact, sometimes the best thing we can
What Should Athletes Know About Emergency Care and Anti-Doping?
What should an athlete in the USADA testing pools do when a prohibited substance or method is necessary in the case of a medical emergency?
3 Ways to Dial in Your Nutrition for Taper Week
Here are some nutrition tips for a successful taper week that leaves you feeling healthy and prepared for competition.
Recreational Athlete Checklist
We explain who qualifies as a recreational athlete, as well as the accompanying requirements and responsibilities.
Food-First Fueling: When to Consume Protein for Maximum Muscle Growth
Where protein is concerned, a sufficient amount is key, in whatever distribution works best for your lifestyle.
Four Things to Know about Competition Levels of Athletes
Your competitive level, which is subject to change, may help you determine whether you need to file a TUE or if you should fill out a TUE Pre-Check form.
Paralympian Desmond Jackson on Why Diligence Matters
Desmond Jackson took a pill from his coach, no questions asked. What happened that day would change the course of his athletic career and life.
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.
What Should Athletes Know About Emergency Care and Anti-Doping?
What should an athlete in the USADA testing pools do when a prohibited substance or method is necessary in the case of a medical emergency?
Recreational Athlete Checklist
We explain who qualifies as a recreational athlete, as well as the accompanying requirements and responsibilities.
Four Things to Know about Competition Levels of Athletes
Your competitive level, which is subject to change, may help you determine whether you need to file a TUE or if you should fill out a TUE Pre-Check form.
Supplement High Risk List: What are Regulatory Warnings?
Learn more about regulatory warnings on the dietary supplements featured on the Supplement Connect High Risk List.
What Athletes Need to Know about Aromatase Inhibitors
What athletes and athlete support personnel need to know about aromatase inhibitors and their stats on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Athlete Advisory: Explanation of Key Changes on 2023 WADA Prohibited List
An explanation of key changes to the 2023 WADA Prohibited List, which identifies substances and methods that are prohibited in sport.
What to Eat and What to Avoid Before Training
You’ve probably noticed that what you eat before training can affect the way you’re able to perform. The general guidelines for healthy eating, like focusing on high fiber and looking for high quality sources of protein, don’t always apply when we get within 60-90 minutes of training. In fact, sometimes the best thing we can
3 Ways to Dial in Your Nutrition for Taper Week
Here are some nutrition tips for a successful taper week that leaves you feeling healthy and prepared for competition.
Food-First Fueling: When to Consume Protein for Maximum Muscle Growth
Where protein is concerned, a sufficient amount is key, in whatever distribution works best for your lifestyle.
Fueling with Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky
Learn how Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky fuels through a food-first approach to compete well as an athlete subject to anti-doping rules.
Fueling with Olympic Weightlifter Abby Raymond
Learn how USA National Team Member Abby Raymond fuels through a food-first approach to compete well as an athlete subject to anti-doping rules.
Do Athletes Really Need Calcium Supplements to Stay Healthy?
Here’s what athletes need to keep in mind when considering calcium in whole food or supplement form.
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 Jen Armbruster: Paralympic Medalist and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Paralympian Jen Armbruster joins USADA to help educate the current generation of athletes about why it matters to compete the right way.
Meet Derrick Adkins: Olympic Hurdler and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Olympian Derrick Adkins joins USADA to help educate the current generation of athletes about why it matters to compete the right way.
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.