Compliance Question Of The Week - Indiana University Athletics

Compliance Question Of The Week
For the week of: May 8, 2006

Question:

Question: Is the drink, Red Bull, considered a permissible nutritional supplement?

Answer:

No, although a recently issued press release by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International wrongly stated Red Bull did not contain any banned substances. According to a memo sent out by the NCAA on April 28, 2006, NSF is a company that has developed an "Athletic Banned Substances Certification Program," which reviews products to determine if they contain a banned substance for athletes under sports governing bodies' rules. According to NSF, their certification identifies products that have demonstrated that what is listed on the label matches the content of the product and there are no banned substances present.

NCAA policy, and NOT NSF certification, determines NCAA banned substances and permissible nutritional supplements. The NCAA does NOT subscribe to nutritional/dietary supplement certification programs.

Banned Substances:

The NCAA continues to list caffeine as a banned substance under the stimulant drug class. Stimulants are considered performance enhancing and pose potential health risks. Red Bull lists caffeine on its label, and therefore contains an NCAA banned substance. The NCAA discourages the use of nutritional supplements containing caffeine due to increased risk of a positive drug test and health consequences.

Impermissible Supplements:

The NCAA continues to identify Red Bull as an impermissible supplement (institutions may NOT provide this product to student-athletes per Bylaw 16.5.2-(g), which defines extra benefits and restricts the provision of nutritional supplements). Energy drinks that contain caffeine sources, amino acids, and/or herbal teas are defined as impermissible nutritional supplements.