Health Topics at the Summer Olympics 2024: Doping allegations; Drugs allowed and banned; Mental health; Covid protocols
Controversial Doping Allegations Causing International Friction
In May 2024, the United States Congress requested a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into a suspected doping cover-up involving an incident, which occurred about six months before the 2021 summer Olympics in Tokyo, where 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned heart drug called trimetazidine (TMZ). (The summer games were postponed from 2020 to 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.)
The Chinese anti-doping agency (CHINADA) found traces of TMZ in the hotel kitchen where athletes were staying at the time of the positive drug tests. After a review of the cases, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted China's finding that the positive test results were caused by food contamination at the hotel. At least three of the Chinese swimmers went on to win medals. The U.S. Olympics officials believe these swimmers should not have been allowed to compete in either the 2021 or 2024 Olympics.
Now, at the 2024 summer games in Paris, Chinese swimmers have been closely scrutinized, with each of its 31 swimmers having been tested at least 10 times so far by World Aquatics. About 11 of the 23 swimmers from the December 2020 incident are also competing this summer in Paris. Hard feelings between WADA and the U.S. Olympic Committee led to WADA putting conditions on the U.S.’ s hosting of the 2028 Olympics, causing more friction.
Today, July 30, WADA responded to the latest U.S. allegations regarding athletes testing positive for banned substances:
"The politicization of anti-doping continues with this latest attempt by the media in the United States to imply wrongdoing on the part of WADA and the broader anti-doping community. As we have seen over recent months, WADA has been unfairly caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions between superpowers but has no mandate to participate in that.
Anger Lingers Over Positive Doping Tests for Chinese Swimmers (New York Times)
What's the swimming doping scandal all about? (Reuters)
Rules about Drugs and Supplements at the Olympics
Rules about what drugs or substances you can or can't take as an Olympic athlete have changed over time. For example, alcohol and even caffeine were at one time verboten. Today, an athlete will not be banned for consuming a few cups of coffee before a competition or a beer the night before. At the 2016 Olympics, many of the prescription drugs banned then also are on the banned list today, but the rules seem to have been stricter eight years ago, based on what experts were saying at the time.
For example, amphetamines (stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin) were banned in 2016, but if athletes had ADHD, they were usually not allowed to take the medications, even if they had been prescribed by a doctor. NYU Langone Medical Center sports doctor Dr. Dennis Cardone told ABC in 2016 that "a medical waiver is available but it's uncommon for an ADHD medical waiver to be approved."
In 2024, many athletes receive "therapeutic use exemptions" (TUEs) to take prescription stimulants or other banned prescription drugs. Gymnast Simone Biles has a TUE for Ritalin (methylphenidate) and says she also now takes an anxiety medication. Interestingly, in China, Japan, Singapore, and other countries, stimulants like amphetamine-containing Adderall and Ritalin are illegal, so athletes from those countries are not allowed to take the same stimulant drugs that other competitors are allowed to take.
WADA maintains the international list of banned drugs and substances. Some substances are banned across the board (all the time) and some are banned for competition only.
Permitted dietary supplements often used by athletes include protein supplements, multivitamins, vitamins, iron and other minerals, caffeine, and the substance creatine. Creatine is naturally stored in the muscles; when taken as a supplement it can boost muscle mass and performance. A survey on opinions about supplements' effectiveness finds that 60% of respondents find protein-centric products to be extremely effective while fat-burning supplements are found to be extremely effective by just 40% of those polled. Check out all the survey results here:
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/fitness-supplements/
Mental Health at the Olympics
In response to growing concern about mental health among athletes, teams from across the globe are sending more mental health care providers to the Olympics. Here are some of the ways mental health needs are being met in Paris:
More than 170 registered mental health professionals or qualified safeguarding experts from more than 90 countries were registered to be in Paris for the Olympic games. Counseling hotlines are available 24/7 with over 70 languages available for any athlete who is in crisis or would like to talk to a counselor. This service will be available to every athlete for four years after the games end. Sports psychologists are equipped to help athletes who may suffer with the let-down or depression that often occurs once the competition is over.
On the first floor of the Olympic Village fitness center, a "Mind Zone" (Athlete 365 Mind Zone) area provides a dedicated space for mental health and well-being. It includes soft light, areas for VR guided meditation, sleeping pods, and yoga spaces.
For Olympic athletes, first come the games, then come the post-Olympics blues (Scientific American)
Covid Protocols: What happens if an athlete catches Covid?
The protocols for Covid-19 illness are no longer strict and isolation is not mandatory for those infected, but mask wearing and distancing from other athletes is encouraged by some teams. Treatment depends on symptoms and diagnosis. In the days leading up to the Paris Olympics, at least eight athletes tested positive for Covid, including five members of the women's Australian water polo team. The U.S. Team follows CDC protocols, which now treats Covid the same as other respiratory illnesseses.
Covid protocols: What happens if an athlete tests positive? (USA Today)
Covid Vaccinations
Covid vaccinations are not required for U.S. or international athletes to participate in the Paris games, but the U.S. did require its athletes to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. At Beijing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not mandate vaccines, but unvaccinated athletes had to undergo a 21-day quarantine upon arrival.
“Discover the history of this tribe of colorful red characters based on the famous Phrygian cap - a symbol of freedom” at the official Olympics website:
https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/the-games/the-brand/mascots