The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that it will undertake a review of its regulations concerning cannabis use amongst athletes. Many experts agree that the agency's current stance towards cannabis is too harsh, arguing that, taken as a whole, the effects of cannabis on sports performance are more negative than positive; something which is not what most would consider to be doping.
A few months after the suspension of American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson for cannabis use, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on Tuesday 14 September that it would review the ban on this substance. In recent years, the threshold for testing positive for cannabis has already been raised and penalties are sometimes reduced for recreational use.
For more of the latest news and events, download our free cannabis news app.
A sportsman or woman who tests positive for cannabis can be suspended for two years. “But since this year, this duration can be reduced to three months when the substance was consumed for recreational purposes, during a period outside of competitions and without any relation to performance, the sanction can even be reduced to one month, as in the case of Sha’Carri Richardson, if the athlete shows that he or she is undergoing treatment for addiction,” explains Jérémy Roubin. The American athlete missed the Tokyo Olympics in the summer because of her suspension.
In 2020, the AFLD prosecuted only two athletes for cannabis use. This low level is explained by a high detection threshold: “It is now 180 nanograms/ml, which excludes any form of passive consumption. If an athlete is tested positive for cannabis, it is because he or she has consumed a lot, regularly or recently in relation to a competition,” added the secretary general of the French agency.
The scientific community is not in agreement on the subject: “Some believe that regular use, by people who have outgrown the sedative effect, increases aggressiveness and therefore acts as a doping product in combat sports. Others defend the fact that cannabis acts as an anti-stress agent,” notes Jérémy Roubin, secretary general of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
For others, like Dr. William Lowenstein, president of SOS Addictions, a revision of the list of products banned by WADA “would be welcome.” He believes that cannabis has no doping virtues: “In terms of concentration and improvement of reflexes, it is far from ideal and it has no effect on reactivity or muscle mass. The only benefit may be in terms of relaxation, in certain disciplines such as shooting.”
“Its ban has no scientific basis and one has the impression that it is more due to moral and political questions”
said Dr. William Lowenstein.
According to the president of SOS Addictions, in terms of cardio, there are also more drawbacks than improvements in heart rate and blood pressure. For Dr. Lowenstein, the analgesic effect of cannabis is also much less effective than other molecules such as opioids: “What will be gained in pain reduction will be lost in concentration and reflexes. I don’t see in which sport the loss of responsiveness could be a good thing.”
The list of products banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency is revised every year, after consultation with all the national anti-doping agencies. “For such a question, the AFLD college will meet before taking a position. This procedure is long, so it won’t be for the 2022 list but for a later list, not before 2023,” says Jérémy Roubin.
But even if cannabis were no longer considered a doping substance, it would not be legalized in France: “The two debates are distinct. If WADA authorizes cannabis, we would fall back into a purely national debate and from a legal point of view I don’t think the law could be changed to allow athletes to obtain exemptions,” says the AFLD secretary-general.
—
(Featured image Jan Zwarthoed via Unsplash)
DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.
This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.
First published in francetvinfo, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.
Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us
A survey found that women comprise 61% of home cannabis growers, marking a diversion from…
Denmark plans to make its pilot medical cannabis program permanent following its success in treating…
Polish lawmakers have submitted a non-binding petition to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, urging cannabis decriminalization…
The UK medical cannabis market has rapidly grown since legalization in 2018, with private actors…
A new study involving over 23,000 participants in New Zealand found that 60% of people…
The French Ministers of the Interior and Justice announced a comprehensive plan to tackle organized…