Sunday Herald, The: Top athletes might think they are competing on the right side of the

ONE of Scotland's leading sportsmen has admitted he feels like he is playing Russian roulette every time he uses a supplement because of the fear it may be contaminated by a banned substance. However, Chris Hoy believes he has no choice if he wants to remain at the top of his event.

"You shouldn't have any worries when you go to doping control because you know you are not taking any drugs. But there is always that little bit of fear in the back of your mind that maybe the supplements you've taken could have been contaminated," admitted the Commonwealth cycling champion.

"Up until now it has felt like Russian roulette because you are taking a risk, but you know it is a risk you have to take to fuel your body properly because the levels we push ourselves to means you have to supplement your diet."

The risks, however, are very real. When the IOC examined the issue after a rash of nandrolone cases, which included Scotland's Dougie Walker, it found almost 15% of the health supplements tested contained substances not listed on the labels, but which were banned in competitive sport.

To pursue Hoy's analogy, that is almost the same odds as loading a revolver and spinning the chamber before firing.

If Dwain Chambers is to be believed, he too has been caught up as an innocent victim.

The British sprinter learned last week that his B sample had tested positive for the new designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone. That confirmed the result of the original urine sample taken in Germany in the summer.

Chambers now faces a two-year suspension and a lifetime ban from the Olympic Games.

He has pleaded ignorance, suggesting he must have ingested THG in supplements supplied by the nutritionist his coach told him to use. In the world of strict liability, even if his claims are true it is no defence and no excuse.

So why would any top-class sportsman or woman take that risk, however small it may be?

Ian Mackie, one of Scotland's most experienced track athletes, agrees with Hoy. A cocktail of protein powders, multi-fuel drinks and pills are needed to ensure enough protein and energy is loaded into the body and to protect from the stresses of sustaining the body on the knife-edge of fitness.

"We damage our immune system so much with the intensity of the training that even a balanced healthy diet is not enough. We'd always end up ill otherwise," he said.

"I take a lot of supplements; Creatine and L-glutamine being the main two after training.

"Basically I've always stuck with the same supplement supplier. I know they make a good product and it is lab tested. You have to pay more for it, but that is something I'm prepared to do," said the 400m runner.

Marianne Hayward is one of Scotland's leading sports dieticians. She heads up that area at the Scottish Institute of Sport. She says she will never recommend any athlete take a supplement. Because it is not subject to the same stringent tests as medicines, there are simply no guarantees about purity, safety and effectiveness.

"We are not naive enough to think athletes don't take supplements, but I would never say to an athlete 'I think you should be using Creatine'. Instead, I'd inform them of the pros and cons of each particular item. What is the best evidence it works; things like that."

Accredited sports dieticians start with the basics. What is the energy intake? Is enough protein, enough carbohydrate and enough water being taken on board?

"Athletes need a certain amount of carbohydrate for their sport per kilo of body weight. We help them plan that. The most important things are rehydration and recovery," said Hayward.

"But in some ways athletes are no different from the general public.

"Following a healthy diet can be difficult. I'd still say it is possible to do it without supplements as long as they plan it.

"Say you want an increased energy intake, that might well be a protein shake, but it equally might be a bagel and a glass of milk."

Hoy says it is about getting substances into the body fast and effectively and that is why some supplements are so appealing.

"After a training session I could sit down to a baked potato and tuna, but that would take a lot longer to absorb than protein shake," said the track cyclist.

The British Cycling Federation has worked with drugs giant GlaxoSmith-Kline to come up with a special protein shake for the national team to allay fears of contamination, but Hoy admitted he was in the same boat as everyone else when it comes to other supplements.

"I know the protein we get now is 100% pure, but how can you be 100% sure about things like Creatine? You could keep going to the same supplier you've had for years and still get one bad batch.

"That is the scary thing because it would be career over," he said.

One of the world's leading experts on the subject is Professor Ron Maughan. The Scot chairs the IOC's nutrition group and is now a visiting professor at the school of sport and exercise science at Loughborough University.

Years ago he came up with Maughan's Law.

"I used to say when it came to supplements that if it works, it is probably banned and if it is not banned, then it probably doesn't work.

"That has changed over the years because there are some legal substances like Creatine where the evidence, while not 100% conclusive, does suggest they have an effect. But, by and large, my law is still true.

"There are a lot of exotic substances out there, often not supported by strong scientific evidence, which athletes are paid a lot of money to endorse.

"I don't think the supplements industry gives a damn because 99.99% of the people who buy these products will never get tested."

Elite athletes, on the other hand, get tested all the time. But, even if it is like Russian roulette, it seems a gamble that many are prepared to take.

Who's taking what?

The Cyclist Chris Hoy Commonwealth champion Protein shake three times a day to refuel the body. Creatine immediately after training. Creatine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in muscles. Taking it in a supplement is said to allow the athlete to work harder for longer. Advocates say it can boost power and strength and also aid recovery. Hoy doesn't take many pills, preferring to eat many small meals each day to encourage his metabolism to work quickly. He does supplement meals by taking a multi-vitamin tablet every day.

The dietician's verdict (Marianne Hayward - Scottish Institute of Sport): Chris seems to be looking after all his needs. It is vital to take on enough carbohydrate to refuel as well as recover after training, and protein and carbs together complement each other in muscle recovery. Multi-vitamins are standard with sports people as a safety net just in case they are not achieving the quality of fruit and vegetables needed.The Athlete Ian Mackie 400m international The runner takes a lot of supplements. The main ones are Creatine and L- glutamine after training. The latter is also an amino acid which prevents muscles from breaking down. Mackie reckons he takes seven or eight pills every day, besides protein powders. The majority are vitamins and minerals because he believes a balanced diet is not enough to sustain the body through intense training.

Takes Glucosamine Sulphate to repair damaged tissue and cartilage and reduce inflammation.

The dietician's verdict: Similar demands to a track cyclist, but I would want to make sure Ian has increased his carbohydrate intake because he has moved up from sprinting to 400m and that requires more energy. I find track and field athletes tend to neglect the importance of rehydration after training. Glucosamine Sulphate has shown benefits for those who have suffered recurrent injuries.The Golfer Alastair Forsyth Malaysian Open champion The man who finished 19th in this year's European Order of Merit owns up to enjoying a "typical Scottish diet". He pretty much eats what he wants. Although he works out in the gym to boost stamina, he doesn't take any supplements.

The dietician's verdict: I have worked with quite a few golfers and it seems the whole concept of nutrition has passed some of them by. They obviously don't have the energy demands of someone like Hoy or Mackie, but they may have an endurance problem given that rounds can last three or four hours. If you are not refuelling properly you are not going to be so mentally aware.

The Rugby Player Andy Hall Scotland international The Glasgow scrum-half used to take Creatine, but now limits his supplement intake to an all-in-one sports shake he drinks after training and matches. The drink contains whey protein, L-glutamine and carbohydrates and is said to boost energy, recovery and endurance, as well as reduce muscle soreness.

Hall supplements that with meal replacement food bars when he doesn't feel like sitting down to a meal after a hard training session or match. Other than that, he says a balanced diet keeps him going.

The dietician's verdict: Intermittent sports like rugby require a fair amount of energy. I'm not sure about sports drinks containing the likes of L-glutamine, but Andy seems to be doing many of the right things. The thing about team sports is that you have to make the right choices away from the game too. Rugby and football are notorious for what drink and food is put into the body after training and matches. The Footballer Lee Wilkie Scotland and Dundee The defender takes a multi-vitamin pill and cod liver oil to supplement a balanced diet. And that is it. He knows players at his club and beyond who use Creatine to build muscle and he is aware Dundee are looking into supplying their players with a protein drink. He'd be happy to take that, but he insists he would want to know it had been thoroughly checked to avoid contamination.

The dietician's verdict: I recommend a similar regime to the rugby player. Football's biggest problem is rehydration. Unlike rugby, where they do come on to the pitch and interrupt play to give out drinks, football doesn't lend itself to rehydration during the match. When I work with young footballers we get them into the habit of looking for the water bottle at the side of the pitch.