Spirit of Sport Blog
Top 5 Things to Know About LGD-4033
LGD-4033 (also known as: Ligandrol, VK5211, Anabolicum) is just one of many drugs to be illegally included in supplements marketed to athletes.
Olivia Smoliga: My Go-To Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Olympic swimmer Olivia Smoliga shares how she stays fueled with food by eating the right combination of healthy meals throughout the day.
Acetazolamide: What Athletes Need to Know About this Altitude Sickness Treatment
Acetazolamide is a type of diuretic, or water pill, and it’s important for athletes to realize that diuretics are prohibited in sport at all times.
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.
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.
5 of the Best Foods for Muscle Support with Richard Torrez Jr.
In this Food-First edition, super heavyweight boxer Richard Torrez Jr. shares his best foods and snacks for muscle support.
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.
Katie Uhlaender on the Past, Present, and Future of Clean Sport
A 4x Olympian in the sport of skeleton, Katie Uhlaender knows what it means to fight for her dreams. She also knows what it feels like to have those dreams clouded by questions of whether she has had access to a level playing field.
Veronica Day: What it Means to Avoid Shortcuts in Sport and in Anti-Doping
Being successful in sport and in life means doing the work and doing the right thing regardless of who’s watching or not. Veronica Day shares what it mean to avoid shortcuts in sport and in anti-doping.
Top 5 Things to Know About LGD-4033
LGD-4033 (also known as: Ligandrol, VK5211, Anabolicum) is just one of many drugs to be illegally included in supplements marketed to athletes.
Acetazolamide: What Athletes Need to Know About this Altitude Sickness Treatment
Acetazolamide is a type of diuretic, or water pill, and it’s important for athletes to realize that diuretics are prohibited in sport at all times.
3 Supplement Manufacturers Charged in Criminal Cases
Despite the challenges of removing illegal products from the market, regulators do occasionally catch up with the people who own and run fraudulent supplement businesses.
What Athletes Need to Know about Wellness and Anti-Aging Clinics
There are an increasing number of health clinics that advertise to be anti-aging or wellness clinics. How do these affect anti-doping rules?
How to Reduce Your Risk from Supplements
If athletes choose to use supplements despite the known risks, USADA recommends that athletes use only dietary supplements that have been certified by a third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sport. Based on a recent consensus statement, USADA now recognizes NSF Certified for Sport® as the program best suited for athletes to reduce the risk from supplements.
Blood Doping and EPO: An Anti-Doping FAQ
Blood doping, which may include the use of erythropoietin (EPO), is among the most well-known methods of doping in sport. Learn more about the prohibited method, as well as the prohibited substance EPO, in this anti-doping FAQ.
Olivia Smoliga: My Go-To Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Olympic swimmer Olivia Smoliga shares how she stays fueled with food by eating the right combination of healthy meals throughout the day.
5 of the Best Foods for Muscle Support with Richard Torrez Jr.
In this Food-First edition, super heavyweight boxer Richard Torrez Jr. shares his best foods and snacks for muscle support.
Eating on Competition Day with Track and Field Olympian Lashinda Demus
In this Food-First Nutrition edition, Olympic medalist Lashinda Demus shares how she fuels her body for the best results on competition day.
Food-First Nutrition: Grilling Tips from an Olympian
In the Food-First Nutrition series, elite athletes share how they maintain the strength & energy they need to compete at the highest levels of sport through a food-first approach. In this edition, World Champion Andrew Gemmell shares his favorite grilling tips.
Food-First Nutrition with Meghan Duggan: How to Incorporate Veggies Every Day
In the Food-First Nutrition series, elite athletes share how they maintain the strength & energy they need to compete at the highest levels of sport through a food-first approach. In this edition, gold medalist Meghan Duggan shares her love of vegetables.
Food-First Nutrition: Celebrity Chef Inspiration with Andrew Gemmell
In the Food-First Nutrition series, elite athletes share how they maintain the strength & energy they need to compete at the highest levels of sport through a food-first approach. In this edition, World Champion Andrew Gemmell shares his celebrity chef inspiration when it comes to cooking.
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.
Pain Medications: Prohibited v. Permitted
Pain medications are something that most people, and many athletes, need to use at some point. This list includes examples of prohibited & permitted pain medications.
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.
Meet Scott Davern from USADA’s Anti-Doping Education Team
Scott Davern wants to help USADA continually reach more athletes and make e-learning increasingly effective, while also finding new ways to connect with athletes.
USADA in the Community: Penrose Hospital and Girl Scouts of the USA
USADA staff members are committed to giving back to their communities in a variety of capacities and with various organizations in Colorado and beyond.
Meet Lashinda Demus: Two-Time Olympic Hurdler and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
After a long career as a successful 400m hurdler, Lashinda Demus is now working to make that sport better by tackling doping.
Meet Andrew Gemmell: Olympic Swimmer and Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter
Now retired, Olympic Swimmer Andrew Gemmell is channeling his commitment to clean sport to advocate for a level playing field and help the next generation of swimmers compete the right way in his role as an Anti-Doping Education Athlete Presenter with USADA.
Meet USADA’s Drug Reference Team
USADA’s Drug Reference Team responsible for answering questions on substances, methods, and TUEs, helping athletes compete clean every day.