DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

Chinese athletes, who usually use Chinese herbal treatments, are avoiding it before the Olympics, worried about possible positive drug tests:

“Deer penis, turtle blood and angelica root potions have joined steroids and amphetamines on the list of banned drugs for Chinese Olympians.

While China’s top athletes have long sought a competitive edge by ingesting traditional concoctions, those customs are fading amid stricter doping rules and concern that drug scandals will embarrass the host nation during the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The nation’s sports stars are replacing millennia-old elixirs with vitamins, protein shakes and Western remedies.

Traditional Chinese medicines may contain banned substances such as the stimulant ephedrine or interact with each other to trigger positive doping tests, said Ai Hua, a doctor for China’s gymnastics and weightlifting teams during the 2004 games.

“Some teams were still taking Chinese traditional medicines at the Athens Olympics,'’ Ai said. “But now, with the fear of doping at the Beijing games, everyone’s avoiding herbal concoctions.'’”

Tags: Herbs //