Better Racing thru IV's & Caffeine ?

Motocross is a physically demanding sport. At a professional level, athletes are on par physically with any athlete in the world.

But in Motocross Competition, some can push harder than others, making racing at times boring.

Would IVs make some athletes able to push harder and therefore increase the entertainment factor of MX Racing?


The use of any prohibited substance by an athlete for medical reasons is possible by virtue of a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

The point of this post is could a Motocross rider get a Therapeutic Use Exemption and use IV’s to perform better?

Up until 2004 caffeine was on the WADA prohibited substances list.

What would that do to your Energy Drink Sponsors if WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) decided to re-implement the Caffeine Ban?

How would MX Sports then feel about belonging to WADA ?

WADA is currently monitoring the usage of caffeine by athletes, as it has been suggested that since it was removed from the prohibited list, its use has dramatically increased. If this is the case, WADA must decide whether to reinstate the ban and if the permitted threshold should be lowered. Of course the other option is to put a complete ban on the use of caffeine.

Could MX Sports and the FIM come up their own Banned Substance List Program ? The NFL has its own NFL’s banned substance list as an example.

IVs allow the body to absorb fluids and other nutrients faster. If you could get an IV between Motos?

The real issue with IV’s seems to be that an IV could mask urine test results (by dilution) or by administering prohibited substances in a way that will more quickly be cleared from the body in order to beat an anti-doping test.

The evolution of the athlete is in many ways directly related to the evolution of medicine.

Starting around 2009, once-devastating injuries that typically took 12-18 months to heal saw recovery time cut in half to around 6-12 months for some.

In the years since, we have marveled at the super-human recoveries of many athletes who had sustained serious injuries. Even on a week-to-week basis, the ability to bounce back and be ready to play has improved directly with advancements in medicine.

IV's could for professional athletes extend their careers, increase recovery plus healing time, and make them feel extraordinarily super-human. Legally.

The use of any prohibited substance by an athlete for medical reasons is possible by virtue of a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

ATHLETE INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS (IV) ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE WADA PROHIBITED LIST

The World Anti- Doping Agency Prohibited List (WADA Prohibited List), includes all substances and methods that are prohibited in sport, including substances and methods that are prohibited both in-competition only, as well as those that are prohibited at all times.

Below is important information about the IV rule, why IVs are prohibited, and how athletes can best protect their health and safety.

WHAT’S THE IV RULE?

• All IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50mL (~3.4 tablespoons) per 6 hour period are prohibited at all times, both in-and out-of-competition, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations, without an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

• If it is a prohibited substance that is administered intravenously or via injection, a TUE is necessary for this substance regardless of whether the infusion or injection is less than 50mL.

• Infusions or injections are permitted if the infused/injected substance is not on the Prohibited List, and the volume of fluid administered does not exceed 50 mL per 6-hour period.

WHY THE IV RULE?

• To protect clean sport and athlete health and safety. It is a fact that IVs can be used to change blood test results (such as hematocrit where EPO or blood doping is being used), mask urine test results (by dilution) or by administering prohibited substances in a way that will more quickly be cleared from the body in order to beat an anti-doping test.

Athletic Performance Enhancement

Competitive athletes push their bodies to the limit, consuming large amounts of vital nutrients as a normal part of metabolism.

Metabolism converts carbohydrates, fats, and proteins found in food into energy through a complex series of chemical reactions. These reactions are catalyzed by enzymes. Metabolic enzymes require vitamin and mineral cofactors. These include:

• Vitamin C
• B-complex
• Magnesium
• Zinc

Intravenous Vitamin Therapy and Athletes IV nutrient therapy helps athletes to:

• Boost performance and increase strength
• Reduce fatigue and shorten recovery time

Which types of intravenous nutrient therapy are best for enhancing athletic performance? Strictly speaking, “IV vitamin therapy,” not only vitamins, but also minerals and other nutrients – such as amino acids and other vitally important organic molecules. The intravenous nutrient therapies most helpful for athletic performance enhancement:

• Myers’ Cocktail

Myers’ Cocktail is a powerful blend of vitamins and minerals designed for IV use. It was originally developed in the 1970s by Dr. John Myers, a Maryland physician. Since then, doctors all over the world have used Myers’ Cocktail to help treat a broad spectrum of health conditions. While the exact ingredients can vary depending on needs of the patient, the formula usually contains:

• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Vitamin B-12
• Vitamin B-6
• Panthenol (B5)
• B-Complex
• Vitamin C

Caffeine

Caffeine has already been known for its stimulating effects on the human body by ancient civilizations who consumed it from natural sources like tea, coffee, cacao beans & cola nuts.

One 250ml can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains 80mg of caffeine.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance, found in over 60 different plants and is a stimulant and mild diuretic. It is the most commonly used drug in the world as it is found in coffee, tea, chocolate (and chocolate based drinks) and many carbonated and energy drinks.

Up until 2004 caffeine was on the prohibited substances list, with athletes being limited to a urine level below 12 micrograms per millilitre. This is equivalent to 6-8 cups of coffee (600-800mg). Performance enhancing effects have since been proven at a much lower intake, between 2-4 cups of coffee (200-400mg).

WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) are currently monitoring the usage of caffeine by athletes, as it has been suggested that since it was removed from the prohibited list, its use has dramatically increased. If this is the case, WADA must decide whether to reinstate the ban and if the permitted threshold should be lowered. Of course the other option is to put a complete ban on the use of caffeine, this would however be impossible due to caffeine staying in the system up to 48 hours. Therefore an athlete would not be able to have a cup of coffee or an energy drink within 48 hours of a competition. Random drug testing makes this even less feasible.

Effects on Performance

During periods of 30-120 minutes caffeine has been shown to produce the following benefits:

• Improved muscle contractibility
• Increased time to exhaustion
• Improved concentration
• Enhanced alertness
• Reduced fatigue

In the short-term (under 30 minutes) caffeine can have a detrimental effect on some aspects of performance, for example fine motor control and technique due to over-arousal.

Side-Effects of Caffeine

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Restlessness, anxiety & irritability
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Interference with recovery and sleep patterns
• Palpitations
• Increased muscle tension