Please be aware that on September 17, 2024, a fabricated article was posted online stating that USADA banned Maurten energy gels because they contain an ingredient called calcium carbonate. This information is false on several fronts. In reality:
- Calcium carbonate is NOT a prohibited substance listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
- USADA does not determine the status of prohibited substances and methods. USADA adopts the WADA Prohibited List for all Olympic, Paralympic and Pan-American sport.
- Due to the way supplements are regulated for quality, USADA does not evaluate or provide guidance on whether any supplement product is free of banned substances, including Maurten energy gels.
USADA also reminds athletes that no dietary supplement can be guaranteed to be 100 percent risk-free for a positive anti-doping test and/or adverse health event. If athletes choose to use supplements despite the risks, USADA recommends that athletes use only dietary supplements that have been certified by a third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sport. USADA currently recognizes NSF Certified for Sport® as the third-party certification program best suited to help athletes reduce their risk from supplements.
For more information or media inquiries, email media@usada.org.