Is CBD safe for athletes during doping tests? Is CBD legal , and what does the law say? Find out here.
Table of contents
BRAINEFFECT HACK : You can get CBD oil for athletes from us either in the smart combination of vitamin E, turmeric extract and astaxanthin with our RECOVER HEMP 10 or as an essential with HEMP 5 .
CBD has become one of the most popular natural dietary supplements worldwide. It's no wonder that even coaches and therapists of professional athletes are exploring its effects .
But is cannabis extract safe for athletes during doping tests ? This article explains what the Anti-Doping Agency says and the legal situation in Germany .
1. What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol and is a cannabinoid of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). A total of over 120 different cannabinoids have been identified in cannabis.[1] These include CBD and THC , which are also considered the most important constituents of the cannabis plant .
Unlike THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive . For this reason, it is used worldwide for medicinal and therapeutic purposes , for example, as CBD oil . CBD oil is completely different from cannabis oil and also contains only a maximum of 0.2% THC .
2. Is CBD legal?
To be able to say with certainty whether CBD is legal, it's important for you to know what form of CBD you're dealing with. Since there are differences here, a different law may be used to assess the situation.
In the case of CBD oil, the matter is quite simple . As long as the THC content in the oil is below 0.2%, producers are allowed to produce the CBD oil and retailers are allowed to sell it legally . You, as a consumer, are then also allowed to purchase it legally. For example, our RECOVER HEMP 10 in combination with vitamin E, turmeric extract, and the antioxidant astaxanthin, or in pure HEMP 5 form.
In Switzerland, the THC limit is even 1% . However, such products are prohibited in Germany because they fall under the Narcotics Act . [2]
In principle , CBD is not subject to the Narcotics Act because it has no psychoactive effects . In addition to the oil, CBD can also be consumed as CBD cannabis ("weed").
Since cannabis is generally prohibited by the Narcotics Act and is only available with a prescription in exceptional circumstances, CBD cannabis must also comply with the THC limit . Otherwise, it is illegal .
3. Why is CBD interesting for athletes?
As an athlete, you know you need the right balance between training, competition, and recovery . Only through the rest phase can your body recharge its batteries and improve its performance the next time.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : Sleep is the best regeneration you can give your body. Our unique CBD oil RECOVER HEMP 10 , with vitamin E, effectively combats oxidative stress and is therefore popular with athletes after training. You can get HEMP 5 in its pure form from us.
Every training session costs you energy, and at the end of the day, inflammatory processes take place in your body, which are even important for fighting viruses and bacteria and eliminating damaged cells .
Your immune system is responsible for this work. Through repairs, it ensures that your muscles grow and you can increase your performance . With the help of CBD, you can support your body's cells in resolving inflammation .[3]
Inflammation is therefore not only important for getting rid of dead cells and fighting off invaders, it also indirectly supports muscle building . During inflammation , the immune system releases the signaling substance TNF-α .
It is partly responsible for the development of fever in the body. CBD is involved in the formation of TNF-α and can also inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway , which also plays a crucial role in inflammation in the body.[4]
Therefore, many professional athletes use CBD oil after training to support the body's natural healing processes after training or competition and promote muscle recovery . CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect and protects cells , which can lead to faster recovery .
4. Does CBD count as a doping agent?
CBD is now considered a natural dietary supplement and the World Anti-Doping Agency officially recognized this by removing CBD from the list of prohibited substances on January 1, 2018. [5]
This sounds great for professional athletes, but as is often the case, rule changes have a back door. Yes, the use of CBD is officially permitted , but this does not apply to its psychoactive counterpart, THC , and this is where the World Anti-Doping Agency's back door lies. Most CBD products contain up to 0.2% THC .
The official statement from WADA states: "Cannabidiol is no longer prohibited. Synthetic cannabidiol is not a cannabimimetic; however, cannabidiol extracted from cannabis plants may also contain varying concentrations of THC, which remains a prohibited substance".[6]
In English: CBD is no longer prohibited . Cannabidiol , which is extracted from the cannabis plant , may still contain varying concentrations of THC , which is still prohibited .
BRAINEFFECT HACK : With us you get either the smart combination of CBD, vitamin E, turmeric extract and astaxanthin with RECOVER HEMP 10 or the pure form in HEMP 5 .
5. Conclusion
CBD is a natural dietary supplement with less than 0.2% THC content that is legally available in Germany. Since it is no longer considered a prohibited substance by WADA, professional athletes can also benefit from its positive effects .
However, as a professional athlete , you must always ensure that you comply with WADA's THC guidelines . So, to be on the safe side, your CBD product should not contain THC .
You can find out what else you should pay attention to when buying your CBD oil here .
6. Sources
[1] Morales, P., Hurst, DP, & Reggio, PH (2017). Prog Chem Org Nat Prod., 103–131. Molecular Targets of the Phytocannabinoids: A Complex Picture. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-45541-9_4 [ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5345356/ ]
[2] ndm/dpa/red (2018). German Lawyers' Information. Cannabis: What is permitted [ https://anwaltauskunft.de/magazin/gesellschaft/strafrecht-polizei/cannabis-was-erlaubt-ist ]
[3] Nagarkatti, Prakash et al. (2009). Future medicinal chemistry, Vol 1.7, p. 1333-49. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. doi:10.4155/fmc.09.93 [ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/ ]
[4] Oláh, Attila et al. (2014). The Journal of clinical investigation vol. 124, p. 3713-24. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. doi:10.1172/JCI64628 [ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/ ]
[5] World Anti-Doping Agency (2020). What is Prohibited in Competition. [ https://www.wada-ama.org/en/content/what-is-prohibited/prohibited-in-competition/cannabinoids ]
[6] World Anti-Doping Agency (2018). Prohibited List 2018 - Summary of Modifications. [ https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/prohibited_list_2018_summary_of_modifications_en.pdf ]
