MELBOURNE The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is considering re-introducing a ban on caffeine products after a scare involving Australian Rules footballer Ben Cousins, a report said on Thursday.
WADA president John Fahey told The Age newspaper that caffeine pills were against the spirit of the sport, adding that he would ask the body’s medical committee to examine a new ban when it meets in September.
“Having been taken back off the banned list, it can be put back on,” Mr Fahey said. “It will be looked at again in light of what’s occurring at the moment.”
Fahey was speaking after Cousins, a recovering drug addict, was admitted to intensive care this week after suffering a bad reaction to a sleeping tablet which he took to neutralise a post-game caffeine buzz.
The incident sparked revelations of widespread caffeine use in the Australian Football League (AFL), with newspapers printing pictures of Brisbane Lions star Brendan Fevola taking pills before a game.
“In my view it brings the game somewhat into disrepute because there are substances there that have an unknown quality to them and unknown consequences,” Fahey said.
WADA lifted its caffeine ban in 2004, and caffeine and sleeping pills are both legal under Australian law. – AFP