By Lindsey Johnson
NCAA athletes who drink the Red Bull Energy Drink in excess amounts could possibly test positive in a drug test.
The NCAA bans the supplemental use of caffeine for all sports.
According to the NCAA Web site, there is a list of banned-drug classes such as stimulants, anabolic agents and street drugs that are prohibited for NCAA athletes to use.
The stimulant guarana, added on the list for the 2002-2003 academic school year, is an herb that is used to make the stimulant caffeine.
Red Bull is not a sports drink like Gatorade or PowerAde, but it''s an energy drink.
Red Bull is a stimulant energy drink loaded with high amounts of caffeine to boost energy, concentration, physical endurance, reaction speed, vigilance, emotional status and stimulate metabolism.
In comparison, one can of Coke contains about 35 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can. Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine in one eight-ounce can.
Diet Coke has a caffeine content greater than Coke by 12 milligrams (47milligrams) of caffeine per 12-ounce can.
If athletes were tested with a concentration in their urine that exceeded 15 micrograms/ml, a positive drug test would be produced.
'One Red Bull would not cause a positive drug test,' said Rachel Olander, resource specialist with the resource exchange center. 'This is only excess amounts.'
Olander works in the Resource Exchange Center for the National Center for Drug Free Sport, the outside company the NCAA hired to conduct all random drug testing.
According to Olander, there is a gray area with caffeine intake. The amounts of caffeine you drink, the time you intake it into your body and your body composition can all be variables to consider.
Drug Free Sport based out of Kansas City, Mo. has a resource center that provides free, confidential and accurate information for athletes to call if they have any questions regarding supplements they are taking.
The National Center for Drug Free Sport Resource Exchange Center works closely with the NCAA and is a great source to assist athletes with questions in order for them to gain knowledge and avoid harsh NCAA penalties.
According to the Red Bull Web site, 'It is recommended to drink one can of Red Bull Energy Drink about 30 minutes before the start of a concentration task or the start of a race or game in sports. This is about the time for the ingredients of Red Bull Energy Drink to become effective in the body.'
However, if you drink Red Bull in excess amounts, an athlete could be jeopardizing their eligibility.
There are two types of drug testing procedures BYU athletes go through.
First, the NCAA conducts one random drug test and second, the University Drug Testing Committee administers multiple drug tests throughout the season.
'Large amounts of caffeine add additional energy and can enhance performance levels,' said Dr. Bruce Woolley, a member of the University Drug Testing Committee who helps drug test BYU athletes.
According to Woolley, when a positive drug test occurs for a member of the football squad, it means a one-year suspension plus missing a post-season bowl game. For basketball, it might include a one-year loss of eligibility.
All-American Nikki Hughes, track sprinter and hurdler said it is important for the NCAA to conduct random drug tests for athletes.
'Track is one of those sports where everyone is trying to find that extra little edge,' Hughes said.
The key is to be smart when consuming these drinks and supplements in the body.
Products such as caffeine can be abused, but can also serve a functional purpose.
Caffeine is a great healing agent used in green tea and in many medicines including the headache medicine Excedrin.
The NCAA and National Center for Drug Free Sport is there to warn and help athletes perform to the best of their ability without having to consume harmful substances into the body to enhance performance.
By abiding by these rules the NCAA has set, every athlete enters a level playing field to compete.