CBD and Athletic Performance: Everything You Need to Know
Cannabis and CBD have always been the subject of much debate. Recently, the topic has regained popularity due to the Olympic Games.
After the suspension of runner Sha’Carri Richardson and the announcement that Megan Rapinoe will represent a brand of CBD products, opinions are coming from all sides. It might be time to settle the controversy and answer questions about CBD’s impact on athletic performance.
By the way, CBD topical balm creams are very common. CBD balm creams can relieve the balm pain fast and effectively.
Is Taking CBD a Form of Doping?
To find out if CBD is a doping substance, one must contact the World Anti-Doping Agency. This agency is responsible for banned substances and methods that can synthetically enhance the athletic performance of athletes.
When asked if taking CBD is a form of doping, the answer is no. Since September 2007, WADA has removed CBD (cannabidiol) from the list of substances prohibited in competition. However, it should be noted that other substances, particularly natural or synthetic THC, won’t benefit from this new status.
In short: CBD is no longer considered a doping THC agent, but it still remains banned. This was one of the factors that led to American runner Sha’Carri Richardson’s 30-day ban in early July 2021.
What Is the Use of CBD in Sports?
Many netizens felt the American athlete’s suspension for cannabis use was too harsh. Especially on the eve of the Olympic Games, which she was expected to win. Feelings of frustration and the perceived unfairness of the situation have only increased since the announcement that Megan Rapinoe is incorporating CBD into her exercise regimen.
According to the American football player, the use of CBD replaces the synthetic medicines usually recommended for athletes, especially for pain relief after injuries. Substances containing strong opiates can lead to severe addiction.
The athlete explains that he replaced these drugs with CBD products for:
- Pain management to calm down after exercise (that’s why CBD pain relief balm creams are common),
- Relaxation during the day and
- Improve the quality of sleep.
In other words, taking CBD isn’t about enhancing performance. Rather, it’s about promoting recovery and improving the quality of life in everyday life. That means CBD is becoming a natural and more complete alternative to the solutions available to most athletes today. Animal studies show that CBD can enhance both mental and physical performance.
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD play a key role in enhancing athletic performance. According to several pre-clinical studies, CBD can prevent tissue damage and nerve irritation in addition to alleviating inflammatory pain. CBD topical balm creams for example, can alleviate inflammatory pain.
Many athletes already add CBD to their training regimen and many specialists recommend it. CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors within the endocannabinoid system, which helps the body fight inflammations and relieves pain. The most common routes of administration are sublingual such as oils and tinctures and topical such as creams and lotions. The main benefit of topical application is that it can target specific areas. CBD massage balm lotions and creams are trending in Australia nowadays. Ultimately, sublingual consumption can activate the whole body.
CBD and Cannabis: Double Standards?
These two Olympians are a perfect example of the disparity between CBD and cannabis as a whole. While one of these substances is beginning to be accepted, the other continues to be banned and criminalized.
Not surprisingly, this discrepancy is having a significant impact on scientific research and the well-being of thousands of people. THC plays an important role in the functioning of cannabidiol. This is one of the reasons why a percentage of around 0.2% is tolerated at the European level.
As long as THC is criminalized, the interactions of these substances and their potential therapeutic effects remain underexplored and consequently underutilized.
Shouldn’t we explore the potential benefits of natural alternatives for athletes who face high levels of stress on a daily basis? Wouldn’t it be in everyone’s interest that CBD products could be taken more widely to promote wellbeing both during and after a competition?
If you’re an athlete and you’re going to take CBD to enhance your performance, always check the label claims for accuracy. That way, you’ll be able to follow the substance rules of your team or league. In Australia, most online stores that sell CBD products are transparent about the ingredients and concentrations.
Consult your doctor before taking any CBD products, especially if you’re an athlete.
Final Thoughts
Using CBD for athletes is common nowadays. The advantage of using CBD for athletes is that it passes drug tests. However, it’s highly recommended to take CBD under complete supervision from your doctor. In addition, you should always check the quality and purity of the CBD product. The best way to do that is to buy CBD products from companies and stores that allow third-party labs to check their products. For example, CBD balm creams are usually brands. CBD balm in Australia is going to be used by everyone in the near future.
At Down To Earth, all our products are tested by independent labs to ensure quality and purity. You can check the lab reports on our website.
Finally, if you’ve any questions, contact us or leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.