Author: thesportspharmacist

A few years ago, I wrote an article in conjunction with Cycling Tips about tramadol, and the fact that it isn't banned for use in sport. In 2019, the International Cyclist Union (UCI) decided to take their own action and ban tramadol for use "in competition" in all cycling disciplines. However, instead of banning it… Continue reading Tramadol to be Banned in 2024 →

Cannabis has been used as a recreational drug by many societies for a very long time; and recent research has meant that it is now also being considered as a viable medical treatment for a range of health conditions. However, cannabis has been banned for use in sport since the inception of the World Anti-Doping… Continue reading Should Cannabis Be Banned In Sport? →

Let's talk about athlete's bums for a bit. Not the part where they are muscular and well formed, but the part where they can become painful and uncomfortable. That's right......haemorrhoids. It's estimated that around 50% of the population will have experienced problems with haemorrhoids by the age of 50. While they usually occur more often… Continue reading Exercise and Haemorrhoids →

Summer is officially over here in Australia for another year. As the temperatures begin to drop and the daylight hours begin to shorten, being outside gradually becomes just a bit more unpleasant! Over the coming months, we tend to spend a bit less time training and exercising outdoors. But why does this matter?? Quite simply,… Continue reading Vitamin D Deficiency in Athletes →

On the 1st of January this year, WADA updated their Banned Substances List, as they do every year. Minor changes are usually made, such as varying the dosing allowances for asthma medications. However, quite a significant change occurred this year.....glucocorticoid injections are now completely banned "in competition". But what does this mean? WHAT EXACTLY ARE… Continue reading New Rules For Steroid Injections →

Yes. Yes you should.

Whenever you talk about monitoring your weight, you will invariably hear the letters BMI referred to. BMI, or Body Mass Index, has been around for quite a while. The basic concept of BMI was actually introduced sometime around the 1830s! BMI is widely used as a simple basis for determining whether an individual is under… Continue reading Is BMI accurate? →

You've just had a long session on the bike, a big workout at the gym, or a marathon run. Completely exhausted, you slip your shoes off, and bam!! That horrible stench wafts straight through the air and into your sinuses, making you gag. Yup, you have smelly feet. The smell is overpowering and takes over… Continue reading How to treat smelly feet →

A new year, a fresh start. As the hangover from new year's celebrations clears, you begin to thing of your goals for the 12 months ahead.....and let's face it, after the crap show that was 2020, there is good reason to set positive targets for the new year. Inevitably, improving your fitness will appear somewhere… Continue reading New Year’s Exercise Resolutions →

Sleep. It's something we all do, it's something we all need. For most of us, it's something we need to do more! But why exactly do we need to spend so much of our time in the land of nod; and in what ways does a lack of sleep affect our exercise and athletic performance?… Continue reading How does sleep affect your performance? →