June 9, 2010

The Long Beach State Athletic Department and Athletic Medicine staff is committed to the personal health and development of our student-athletes. In addition to the athletic related injuries we see, our staff and network of health care providers can be a resource on nutrition, nutritional supplements and eating disorders. Student-athletes are encouraged to contact an athletic training staff member with any questions or concerns.

Supplements
The NCAA warns student-athletes about the use of nutritional supplement based on the several factors:

• The federal government (FDA) does not regulate supplement labeling and therefore, ingredients included in the product may not be listed on the label and/or the amount of the ingredient may be wrong.
• Student-athletes and salespeople are often unaware of the banned substances/ingredients that may be in these supplements thus cannot guarantee that they are safe.
• Athletes and coaches may be unaware that there are different names used for the same or similar products. This lack of knowledge may lead to an athlete taking a product containing banned or unsafe substances.

NCAA's policy is that ignorance is no excuse and if an athlete tests positive during an NCAA sponsored drug test thus he/she will lose one year of eligibility regardless of the source of the banned substance.

NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.g states "An institution may provide permissible nutritional supplements to a student-athlete for the purpose of providing additional calories and electrolytes. Permissible nutritional supplements do not contain any NCAA banned substances and are identified according to the following classes: Carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks, energy bars, carbohydrate boosters, and vitamins and minerals." Other important factors regarding nutritional supplements include:

• Nutritional supplements containing 30% or more protein are considered muscle building and are not permissible.
• It is not permissible for an institution or an institutional staff member to sell or arrange the sale of muscle-building supplements to student-athletes.

Athletes who are taking supplements or are considering taking supplements would be well advised to see an athletic trainer or call the NCAA REC hot line at 877-202-0769 or on-line at www.drugfreesport.com/REC (password= ncaa1) to find information on specific products. Athletes will never be advised that a non-regulated supplement is guaranteed to be safe and will not cause a positive result on a drug test.

General Health and Safety
The Long Beach State Athletic Department is committed to the personal health and development of our student-athletes. In addition to the athletic related injuries, our athletic training staff and network of health care providers can be a resource for you to help deal with other health related issues or illnesses that may arise. Examples of these issues include:

• Nutrition & eating disorders
• Pregnancy
• Drug & alcohol related issues. (NCAA Education, testing and banned medications)

Student-athletes are encouraged to contact an athletic training staff member with any questions or concerns regarding their health and or any of the issues listed above.