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Hi All,
Please find attached a memo regarding Shotz Cappuccino caffeinated gels from David Hughes - in his role as AOC Chief Medical Officer (CMO), AIS CMO and a member of the AIS Sports Supplement Panel. This memo has been sent across all Australian Olympic and Paralympic sports to ensure all Australian athletes are aware of this finding.
Several Shotz products were recently tested by a third party testing lab, to ensure safety for our Australian Athletes competing in Rio. Testing revealed that the sample of Shotz Cappuccino Energy Gel tested, contained Phenylethylamine - a stimulant (S6) that is banned in competition by WADA. It is important to note that Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a naturally occurring substance found in some foods, including cocoa. PEA is metabolised very quickly, and so it is unlikely to cause a positive urine sample. Additionally, ASADA were unable to advise of any analytical threshold that would be applied, but advised that lab testing was geared towards the detection of 'relatively high levels' of PEA in urine samples. Despite the unlikely event of an athlete testing positive, the advice received from the testing lab was for athletes to avoid using caffeinated Cappuccino Energy Shotz gels in competition.
Please note that testing was also conducted on Shotz electrolyte tablets, Cola-Vanilla caffeinated gels, protein bars, and some flavours of non-caffeinated gels, with no adverse findings. Therefore, athletes should not be deterred from using other Shotz products (other than the Cappuccino gel). This is because the PEA has come from the flavouring used in the Cappuccino gels. Shotz are currently working through this issue, and it will be resolved in due course.
This incident highlights the risks associated with using supplements in this case a sports food/fluid - sports gels. Sports gels are an unlikely suspect for contamination with prohibited substances, so this situation provides further reason to be selecting supplements that are third party tested. For instance, PowerBar Europe, Etixx, SIS have their entire ranges 3rd party tested including sports drinks, gels, electrolyte tabs and bars. Other companies have selected items tested such as GU, High 5 and Body Science.
As an athlete, you are 100% responsible to ensure the supplements you take offer low risk of containing banned supplements. Do your homework, check the company's website, send an email asking whether they have their supplements third party tested, ask your sports dietitian their advice on the supplement.
