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I think some of these things are just stupid. If it can be found in an over the counter medicine it should not be more than a slap on the wrist at certain levels. Just like LSU loosing their NCAA Championship because of a substance in nasal spray!

But don't over the counter medicines still require a doctors note. What if they changed the test protocols so the athlete could have an allowable amount in there body. Figure out what is x amount for a flu/cold or whatever they need it for backed up with a doctors note. As opposed to someone who just takes ridiculous amounts far beyond what is necessary for their ailment to lead to obvious boosts in performance.

pinoyathletics wrote:But don't over the counter medicines still require a doctors note. What if they changed the test protocols so the athlete could have an allowable amount in there body. Figure out what is x amount for a flu/cold or whatever they need it for backed up with a doctors note. As opposed to someone who just takes ridiculous amounts far beyond what is necessary for their ailment to lead to obvious boosts in performance.

I take it you are not in the United States. No, 'Over the counter' means you can just grab them off the shelf and buy them at the normal check out counter. 'Prescription drugs' require a prescription.

So lets say an athlete wakes up with a really stuffy nose at a track meet and walks across the street and grabs some nasal spray to fix it without thinking there could possiably be anything in it that would make people think they are a drug cheat. Now the athlete test positive and the team loses a national championship.

And yes there could be a set amount of the drug that is deemed illegal that it was evident the person was taking them in high doses to gain an advantage. Like maybe if they are using it more than the recommended dosage or something. There are a ton of stimulates with things that can make you test positive. Chocolate, tea, coffee, energy drinks... all stimulates.. all banned in high dosages, all high enough dosages you would really have to try to turn up positive on a drug test with.

Methylhexaneamine is not sold in any over the counter nasal sprays in the US and it's not in any popular energy drinks. The girl from LSU already served a 6 month ban earlier that year for testing positive for the same substance. There's no way she "accidentally" made the same mistake twice.

Also, when you take an NCAA drug test you have to write down all the meds you are taking. Even multi vitamins. So the testers would know what to expect if an athlete was taking a nasal spray.

I get what you mean now. Over the counter drugs would even include Ibuprofen which you can buy at the super market here in Australia.