Energizing Supplements in Minnesota High School Sports

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Are young athletes being pushed too far to always perform at higher and higher expectations? Taking vitamins are highly recommended by doctors, but there are some supplements that are illegal for use in high school sports. New pre-workout supplements cause new high school drug policies, research into both the active ingredients and short/long term effects of these products. These pre-workouts are this generation’s steroids and can have side effects that are just as dangerous. Their purpose is to provide you with a burst of quick and long lasting energy, increased blood flow, muscle growth, and faster recovery periods. Their popularity is growing faster than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can research them and provide more information on what these products truly do to your body, such as whether they are actually safe for young adult athletes to use. First it should be recognized that all pre-workout supplements are to be only purchased by those who are eighteen years of age and above, though these regulations are flawed (MSHSL) . Stores will rarely ask for identification and focus more on the sale of their products. But no matter what age, if the athlete takes these pre-workouts during a high school sport, the athlete will face game suspensions. The Minnesota State High School League states that student athletes are not allowed to ingest in any way supplements containing the chemicals creatine, androstenedione, ephedrine, or any other similar or performance enhancing drugs unless under direction of a licensed medical professional. They also reserve the right to at any time randomly drug test all athletes participating in high school sports. The MSHSL bases their policies off of the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited ... ... middle of paper ... ...is still research to be done, but for now it is up to the individual to decide if he or she is healthy enough to take these products safely or if it is even worth taking,given the long-term effects. Work Cited Bennett, Andrew. “Bad Side Effects of Muscle Building Supplements”. Livestrong. 16th Aug 2013. Web. 1st March 2014 Kristof, Gregory. “Menomonie High School Students suspended after taking C4 Extreme, creatine supplement energy drink”. 12 July 2012. Huffington Post. Web. 1 March 2014. MSHSL. “Steroid and Supplement Position”. Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Pg 1. Web. 6 March 2014. Stoppani, Jim. “Pre-Workout!”. Student Research Center. Jan 2013. Pg 66. Joe Weider Muscle and Fitness. We. 20 Feb 2014. W.A.D.A. “2013 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods”. Download Center. Sep 2013. pg 1-9. Web. 6 March 2014

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