What UCLA Tells Players

Geoff Schaadt, director of athletic training and rehabilitation at UCLA, gets the players’ attention when he informs them ephedrine is on the NCAA list of banned substances.

“I can tell the guys [ephedrine] is potentially dangerous, but it doesn’t always register,” he said. “But when they realize it can cause them to fail a drug test, they take it seriously.”

All UCLA athletes are given a handout that lists banned substances and Schaadt goes over them in detail with the team. Ephedrine, also called ma huang in many nutritional supplements, is described in greater depth than any other substance.

The handout follows, verbatim:

Banned Substances

Student-athletes need to be aware that many preparations they obtain from herbologists and stores such as GNC contain substances that are legal to purchase, but are on the banned substance list for the NCAA and UCLA.

The most common item you will find is ephedrine, a stimulant. In these dietary supplements ephedrine is commonly referred to as Ma Huang. Also, ephedrine is commonly used as an ingredient in protein preparations, i.e., protein shakes, but is not included in the ingredient list.

Other substances commonly used in these items include androstenedione, norandrostenedione and DHEA. These are legal to buy, but will cause a positive in NCAA and UCLA drug testing.

Store clerks do not understand the distinction, so when you ask them if they are legal, the response will always be yes!

In essence, avoid anything ending in: -ione, -one, -ine, -ol, -ide or using the word anabolic.

The wise choice is not to take anything without clearing it with your team’s athletic trainer or team physician first.

What are the banned drugs for NCAA competition?

STIMULANTS

Caffeine

Ephedrine

Ma Huang

Strychnine

Cocaine

Amphetamines

Ecstasy

And many more

ANABOLIC AGENTS

Anabolic Steroids

Androstenedione

Norandrostenedione

DHEA

Methyltestosterone

Testosterone

Nandrolone

And many more

DIURETICS

Acetazonlamide

Flumethiazide

Metolazone

Triamterene

And many more

PEPTIDE HORMONES

HCG

ACTH

HGH

EPO

And many more

STREET DRUGS

Heroin

Marijuane-THC

Cocaine

Ecstasy

And many more

Please be aware, this list is not all inclusive!! There are many other substances in these categories. These were listed as examples.

More information is available at the NCAA website: www.ncaa.org/sports_sciences/drugtesting or via phone at the Dietary Supplement Resource Exchange Center at 877-202-0769.

Finally, remember that the USOC is even more restrictive than the NCAA, so if you are planning to compete in USOC events, you must be even more careful.