The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s 2017 list of prohibited substances is now in effect, including the newly-banned substance Arimistane, which the Russian Swimming Federation specifically warned its athletes to stop taking.
Each year, WADA republishes its list of banned substances, adding more substances as they are determined to belong on the list. You can find the full list here, plus a look at some of the major changes from the 2016 list here.
One notable inclusion is Arimistane, also known as androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione. Per our earlier reporting by editor-in-chief Braden Keith, Arimistane is legal in most countries and available over the counter. It’s used to lower estrogen levels, which can theoretically help muscles grow. It’s in a number of health supplements including:
- Arom-X Sedds Chrome
- Eradicate
- Arimestage PCT 50
- Arimiplex
- Revolution PCT
- Pure Labs Clomadex
- Bio Armour Resurect PCT
- Critical PCT
- Logan Carter Elevate PCT and others.
The reason Arimistane is notable is that Russia’s swimming federation specifically published a warning on its website, telling athletes to stop taking the substance prior to January 1, when it would become illegal. The announcement could certainly be viewed as a good faith effort to warn athletes about an over-the-counter medication that is becoming illegal to use within sport. But the announcement is also vaguely reminiscent of last year, when Russia made a similar announcement about meldonium, a blood-flow drug that became illegal in 2016. A number of Russian athletes tested positive for meldonium in early 2016, including Rio Olympic silver medalist Yulia Efimova.
The Russians aren’t natty.
Is it typical or usual for elite swimmers to take cupfuls of pills/supplements like the photo?
I imagine most supplement to some degree. Theres alot out there supplement wise like multi vitamins, fish oil, magnesium, l carnitine, caffeine and even more so yeah i guess if you put it all together it would look like that in a little cup. For the athelets on drugs then most definetly as most of the time you arent just taking 1 substance, but many substances to stack benefits, counteract side effects or to mask the presence for testing. Plus the drugged atheletes are probably taking normal supplements as well
Maybe dey got them sumthin like hiv or early onset dementia or a mysterious syndrome . Provided they are documented it’s all legal .
Maybe not pills, specifically, and good luck getting any of them to admit it, but my money says yes. Anything that is legal and *might* give an edge in performance or recovery is fair game, and I’d bet that most of the well-funded swimmers are taking full advantage of it. Citulline Malate, L Carnitine, Beta Alinine, baking soda, caffeine, and that’s only what I can think of off the top of my head. I imagine some of their medicine cabinets are absolutely packed with supplement powders and capsules.