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Drugs in Sports Resources -
Brought to you by Certified Sports Pharmacy Experts
Got Drug Questions? Consult your personal Sports Pharmacists
What is sports pharmacy? In short, it's drugs in sport sciences and exercise medicine.
Sports Pharmacists are drug experts who specialize in working with athletes. As athlete support personnel, sports pharmacists have the responsibility of interpreting the most current science and clinical evidence to help athletes (or exercise enthusiasts) make informed decisions and use medications safely -- or avoid dangerous medications or risky dietary supplements. Sports Pharmacists advocate for athletes goals in sports performance, while keeping a clear focus on the long-term health for athletes, as people who are dedicated to sports and often intense training. We advocate for athletes. Qualified Sports Pharmacists complete the trainings listed below.
What qualifies a pharmacist to work with elite athletes and call oneself a sports pharmacist?
Because these subjects are not part of the core pharmacy curriculum, not all pharmacists are qualified to work with elite athletes. They have blindspots about the codes by which athletes and athlete support personnel must abide.
Here are the steps to begin the qualification process.
Aspiring Sports Pharmacists brief training checklist:
Complete foundational knowledge of pharmaceutical substances and methods of treatment to evaluate drugs / therapies / nutraceuticals / nutrients as they relate to sports, sport-related illness or injury, recovery and diseases commonly diagnosed among athletes.
Complete drug and doping related trainings provided by World Anti-Doping Agency, US AntiDoping Agency (or your national / regional antidoping authority or sports integrity group) NCAA, Drug Free Sport International, and other sports medical and drug testing program by which our individual patient-athlete abides. When in doubt, call the anti-doping authority.
Review the individual athlete's specific sport Code of Conduct which may have additional restrictions, such as needle policy or illicit drug use policy. This may differ for specific events.
Take the Pledge for the Safety of the Athletes, as we recognize medications have risks and dietary supplements have even higher risks. We recognize that youth athletes, para athletes and some categories of elite or high-performance athletes qualify as vulnerable populations. Pharmacists have a duty to help protect vulnerable populations.
Join the collective of Clean Sport
Join the Movement to advocate for athlete health with Global Athlete
Complete Abuse Awareness and Prevention Training to Safe Guard the Athletes. As above, many athletes are vulnerable to mistreatment or abuse. Pharmacists should recognize, report and help prevent this.
Contact ISPN for an access key to take the US Center for Safe Sport training and the Sports Pharmacists Uplift.
Expand awareness of other sports related science and medical fields, such as sports and exercise medicine, sports nutrition, physiotherapy, and so on. Understand how pharmacy expertise can support the important roles played by the rest of the sports medical team. Certified Athletic Trainers, Physiotherapists, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, Orthopedic Surgeons, and others, along with parents, coaches and other influences in the athlete's life (a.k.a. the Athlete Support Personnel) are all part of the team.
Use online resources to ensure the drug information provided is up-to-date. Accept that you do not know what you do not yet know. INFORMATION CHANGES at least annually. Before giving recommendations that could impact an athlete's health and career, confirm all drug information with the most up-to-date resources.
Review the status of WADA Prohibited Substances on Global DRO.
Review drug status in sport on AXIS for other athletes.
Know rules for athlete support personnel working with youth sports related to drugs.
Consider further training and education in sports pharmacy by visiting the Sports Pharmacy Link or advanced course like the International Olympic Committee Drugs in Sport Certificate or the Sports Pharmacy Diploma.
Act locally. Many opportunities exist within the community, at local schools, or the local gym.
Follow your passion and accept that you will have some days that lack momentum and some overwhelming weeks, but you can make it through, just like training as an athlete. Look to the spirit of sport.
Click above for resources about drugs in sports, for athlete health and safety
Pharmacists are Medication Experts
What do Sports Pharmacists address? Sports Pharmacists customize a response for "Is this okay to take...?" questions from athletes or Athlete Support Personnel
Pharmacists with advanced training who evaluate smart and appropriate use of medication in sports and exercise, interpreting the influence of drugs (substances) or treatments (methods) used by athletes, to support athlete longevity, integrity of sporting competition, and public health.
Pharmacists interpret drugs in depth through various career paths. Some general pharmacists' knowledge and skills, which are used within the context of athlete health advocacy and performance by Sports Pharmacists, include:
the origin of the chemical (natural, synthetic, cell, gene, other) called pharmacognosy, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapy.
ways drugs effect the body called pharmacokinetics and the way the body effects the drug called pharmacodynamics
how individual genetics impact taking medicine, such as ability to metabolize medications to activate or clear from the body.
how to recognize when a drug is working with personalized monitoring of an individuals response and biometric measurements.
ways to avoid side effects of medications, medical devices or other therapies
preventing adverse drug events, which are the serious reactions of medications that may not be preventable but must be quickly recognized when associated with a drug
correct doses to start based on age or other individual body demographics, along with how to titrate up or down a dose
selecting a dosage form that meets the person's condition, lifestyle and cost parameters
identifying drug -, food -, dietary supplement -, vitamin -, disease - interactions
pharmacy rules and regulations or drug laws and international travel
operations of pharmacy, including management and project development, human resources, major event organization, supply chain management, drug shortages, procurement or dispensing of hazardous products
and a pharmacist's perspective on handling prevention, healthly lifestyle, deprescribing, patient counseling, and so much more.