Many feel they have to take the supplements simply to keep a level playing field between themselves and their competitors. Supplements to improve performance are nothing new - sports drinks with added glucose and replacement salt have been around for decades. Baking powder helps muscles And eating baking powder to help disperse lactic acid from the muscles is another well-known technique. Most athletes take supplements In a newspaper poll of top athletes, more than half had admitted taking the amino acid creatine, which is sold over the counter in powdered form. Often even the smallest advantage offered by these products are too great to be ignored, even though creatine has been linked to health problems such as kidney damage, muscle cramping and dehydration.
Amino acids are the basis for other supplements popular with athletes.
And athletes make extensive use of vitamins and minerals such as folic acid. Professor Craig Sharp, who carries out research into the science of sport at Brunel University, takes a slightly cynical approach to supplements and vitamins. But athletes know that if they improve their performance by even a tiny amount, it will make a big difference. People are paranoid about anybody having an edge. He believes the main effect of such supplements is psychological - but adds that this is a powerful effect in itself.