Drug and Supplement Testing in Sports

Next Level Podcast with Host Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, LD

Bob Murray, PhD, FACSM
Managing principal of Sports Science Insights, LLC, a consulting group that assists companies and organizations in need of targeted expertise in exercise science and sports nutrition.

On the Next Level Podcast, Tavis Piattoly interviews Bob Murray on current trends in testing dietary supplements and drugs in sports and how Aegis Shield can help inform athletes on the safety of supplements.

Bob Murray, PhD, FACSM is managing principal of Sports Science Insights, LLC, a consulting group that assists companies and organizations in need of targeted expertise in exercise science and sports nutrition. SSI’s clients range from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Dr. Murray is also the Aegis Shield Scientific Director for the Aegis Sciences Corporation. Aegis Shield is an educational resource (website and mobile app) that helps keep athletes clean and in the game by identifying banned substances in dietary supplements.

Dr. Murray was the co-founder of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and its director from 1985 to 2008. Dr. Murray’s research on the hydration needs of athletes and the physiological and performance responses to fluid, carbohydrate, and electrolyte ingestion contributed to the broader understanding of the importance of being well hydrated during exercise and of the role that carbohydrates and electrolytes play in helping athletes and nonathletes alike get the most out of their bodies during physical activity.

Bob served on the faculties of Boise State University (1980-1985; Associate Professor), Ohio State University (1979-1980; Lecturer), and Oswego State University (1974-1977; Assistant Professor and Men’s Swimming & Diving Coach). Bob received his PhD in exercise physiology from Ohio State University, is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and an honorary member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In this podcast you will learn:

1. Who Aegis Shield is and the type of testing they offer?
2. Bob's role with Aegis Shield.
3. Aegis’ new phone app that helps athletes detect banned substances in supplements.
4. Bob’s concerns with high school athletes taking supplements.
5. Product adulteration.
6. Common supplements that test positive for banned substances.
7. Aegis’ new 3^rd party testing program.
8. What separates Aegis from other 3^rd party testing companies.
9. The supplement testing business in 10 years.
10. Micro-dosing of Performance Enhancing Drugs and testing protocols to detect it.
11. Aegis’ partnership with the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Podcast Transcript

0:00 Intro

3:38 Who Aegis Shield is and the type of testing they offer?

Resource for anyone that wants to know about banned substances
Shows if a supplement has banned substances for different sport organizations

4:45 Bob's role with Aegis Shield.

Scientific director
Educational content
Aegis Shield certified program for supplements

5:38 Aegis’ new phone app that helps athletes detect banned substances in supplements.

Scan barcode to see if there is banned substance or not
Green, Yellow and Red color coding system for banned substance
Search supplements by name
Can figure out substance aliases

10:05 Bob’s concerns with high school athletes taking supplements.

Very few people have the expertise to guide student athletes and parents when it comes to supplements
Lack of education when it comes to supplements

12:15 Product adulteration

Ingredients sometimes not added to label

13:16 Common supplements that test positive for banned substances.

Muscle builder, weight loss and sexual enhancements are the highest in banned substances
Spiking supplements with banned substances is easier with these big 3

15:21 Aegis’ new 3rd party testing program.