Medication, Dietary Supplement, and Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Sub-Elite Australian Rules Footballers – A Snapshot

Abstract

Aim: Australian sport was rocked by the revelations of the Australian Crime Commission’s report Organized Crime and Drugs in Sport. Although the primary focus of the report concerns the use of prohibited substances at elite level, the report also examined the possible effects of prohibited substance use at sub-elite levels. Little is known about the use of medications, dietary supplements, and alcohol and tobacco by Australian sub-elite athletes. This paper provides a ‘snapshot’ of use at a single sub-elite Australian Rules Football Club prior to the commencement of the 2012 South Australian football league season. Design: Prospective survey of sub-elite footballers from a single South Australian club. Method: Players were required to complete a medical questionnaire prior to the commencement of the 2012 SANFL season. As part of the questionnaire, players were provided with questions concerning the use of prescription medications, supplements, and alcohol and tobacco. Players that were included on the ‘Senior Training Squad’ were identified and their questionnaires used in the preparation of this article. Results: Few players use prescribed medication, and a little over one-third of players take dietary supplements. Alcohol was the most consumed item, with 82% reporting some alcohol use. Daily tobacco use was almost nonexistent. There were no reports of the use of substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Conclusions: Alcohol is the substance most used by players, with prescribed medication use almost entirely limited to asthma medications. Prohibited substance use is undetectable.