National Science Week: Pharmacist training to Protect Clean Athletes
Sport Integrity Australia is enlisting the help of local pharmacists in a bid to protect athletes from unintentional doping cases caused by medications and supplements.
In the past eight years, more than 30 Australian athletes have tested positive from supplements, with products such as protein powders, fat burners and muscle builders carrying a high unintentional doping risk.
In addition, athletes may sometimes need access to over-the-counter medications which contain banned ingredients for legitimate medical conditions. Ensuring athletes have followed the correct processes to use these medications in sport is critical.
To help tackle these issues, Sport Integrity Australia has developed a new sports pharmacy education program which is now being rolled out to pharmacists across Australia.
The program includes 2 x 30 minute CPD accredited webinars, which are offered to pharmacists of a large banner group in Australia, as well as an online course available to all other pharmacists, developed in partnership with the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC).
Sport Integrity Australia Athlete Educator and practising pharmacist, Deborah Greenbaum, said having pharmacists trained on anti-doping rules, specifically about medications and supplements, could be a gamechanger for protecting athletes in Australia.
“In order to effectively counsel patients, a pharmacist must understand the particular pharmaceutical constraints a person may be under,” said Deborah.
“The opportunity to provide pharmacists with information around the rules and regulations for athletes relating to medications and supplements was an important step forward in our education program.”
“Being a pharmacist myself, I know the critical role we play in assisting athlete patients. Effective counselling for athletes will reduce their risk of inadvertent doping by ensuring that when pharmacists dispense or provide advice, they understand the antidoping rules.”
The education program covers the anti-doping rules, Therapeutic Use Exemption processes for medications that include banned ingredients, and advice on how athletes can find low-risk supplements.
On completion of the eLearning course, pharmacists are also eligible to receive a certificate of completion to display in their pharmacy.
“We hope this certificate could give athletes confidence in the support they receive when asking about sport specific medication matters,” Deborah said.
