Supplement Grouping	Definition
Group A	This group includes supplements and sports foods that provide a performance benefit in sport-specific and individual-specific situations or provide a useful and timely source of energy and nutrients in an athletes diet or are of medical/therapeutic benefit bicarbonate, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), caffeine, calcium, creatine, carbohydrate powders and gels glucosamine and chondroitin, intramuscular iron, phenylephrine, intramuscular vitamin B12, liquid meal replacements, melatonin, recovery formulas, sports & energy bars; skim milk powder, sports drinks, specific vitamins and minerals.
Group B	This group includes supplements currently lacking substantial proof of beneficial effects or have no proof of beneficial effects in sportspersons. This group contains the majority of supplements including many herbs and herbal extracts* promoted to sportspersons. These supplements enjoy a cyclical pattern of popularity and use, but have not been proven to enhance sport performance. In some cases these supplements may impair sports performance or health: arginine, bee pollen, branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s), colostrum, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), carnitine, cordyceps, cytochrome C, coenzyme Q10, chromium picolinate, choline, Echinacea, ferulic acid, ginseng, glycerol, glutamine, ginkgo biloba, gamma-oryzanol, intravenous iron, inosine, lysine, ornithine, pro-biotics, Protivity (Microhydrin), pyruvate, ribose, vitamin B12 injections, spirulina. * Note that many supplement products sold by network marketing schemes contain ingredients from Group B
Group C	Supplements that are prohibited for use by the International Olympic Committee. This list includes prohormone supplements and stimulants. The prohormone supplements can be grouped into testosterone precursors and nandrolone precursors. TESTOSTERONE PRECURSORS: Testosterone precursor hormones provide the necessary materials to increase the production of testosterone in the body. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); androstenedione; androstenediol; The ingestion of testosterone precursor hormones may result in a positive doping test. This is defined as a testosterone:epitestosterone (T:E) ratio  4:1 and constitutes a positive test. Recent research has found that supplements in categories A, B may be contaminated with testosterone precursors. If testosterone prohormones are ingested inadvertently, the T:E ratio may remain elevated for up to 24 hours. The effect of tribulus terrestris, herbal testosterone supplements, zinc magnesium antioxidant (ZMA), ecdysterone (suma)on drug testing results are unknown. These substances, although by themselves not necessarily prohibited, may often be used in conjunction with androstenedione and DHEA (anabolic precursors) which are banned.   NANDROLONE PRECURSORS Nandrolone precursors may increase the production of nandrolone in the body. 19-noradrostenedione; 19-norandrostenediol Nandrolone precursor steroids may be found in small amounts in other commonly used supplements. If a nandrolone precursor steroid is ingested, this may be converted to nandrolone by the body. The nandrolone is broken down to 19-norandrosterone which can be found in the urine. The athlete will have a positive drug test if the concentration is greater than 2 ng.ml-1 in males and females. The urine may remain positive for 7-10 days. Negative side effects of prohormone steroids: water retention, gynecaemastia, male pattern balding, testicular atrophy, prostate cancer, hypertension, decreased HDL cholesterol, abnormal liver function tests, mood and behavioral changes. STIMULANTS Stimulants may be detected in the urine for varying periods of time. The FDA has notified manufacturers of its intent to ban the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids but there may still be athletes with stock of supplements (e.g. fat burners) that contain Ephedrine or it may inadvertently be present in some products. Ephedrine and methylephedrine is prohibited in a concentration of ³ 10 mg/ml. Note: ingestion of dietary supplements containing Sida herbs (e.g. Sida cordifolio) may contain ephedrine alkaloids and thus may cause a positive drug test result.