The Use of Herbal/Traditional Products Supplementation and Doping Tests in Elite Athletes

The aim of this study was to examine the use of herbal and/or traditional products supplements and doping tests among elite athletes. A questionnaire, which sought prevalence of the use of herbal/traditional products, the reason for taking supplements by the informants, information on demographical parameters, type of supplements, and doping consciousness, were completed by 228 athletes from 14 sport disciplines. Samples of the blood of 10 athletes were collected after they took herbal and/or traditional products, using the multi-stratified cluster random sampling method and were analysed by the doping control center in the KIST. The prevalence of oriental medicine usage is 53.5% (male) and 62.2% (female), and the reason for taking supplements was to improve recovery ability after exercise and training rather than to control conditioning. Relative gender-significant differences were observed in the subjects (male: self, female: parents) and doping consciousness (male: 73.7%, female: 31.4%). Tests of all the samples, according to the regulations of WADA anti-doping code, showed negative responses in 9 items and 210 substances. In conclusion, many herbal and/or traditional products were used as ergogenic aids despite a lack of evidence to support such claims. Moreover, there was difference between the doping consciousness levels in male and female. It was suggested that female athletes might need to increase their doping consciousness level.