The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an international independent agency with a goal to keep sports doping-free.
WADA is responsible for establishing the rules around doping in all international sports, including the Olympics.
WADA & CBD
In 2018, WADA removed CBD from its list of restricted substances. While all other cannabinoids are prohibited (think cannabinoids like THC and CBG), CBD is perfectly acceptable.
Athletes are ultimately responsible for what substances are found in their urine, so a high quality CBD is absolutely necessary.
Many cheap CBD oils are not properly processed and include amounts of THC. A pure CBD oil is absolutely essential for athletes choosing to use CBD as part of their training regiment.
How can athletes use CBD?
A recent study published in March 2020 aimed to discover how athletes might use CBD.
“Preclinical studies suggest that CBD could be useful to athletes due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, neuroprotective properties and its influence on the sleep-wake cycle.”
CBD is anti-inflammatory
Perhaps CBD’s most well-known property is that of being anti-inflammatory.
Several studies have proven the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD. A 2015 study explained CBD reduces inflammation through several pathways in the body. And that’s just the beginning of the research.
CBD is an analgesic
CBD is an analgesic – used to relieve pain. In study after study, the positive effects of CBD are proven. Whether used topically or internally, CBD is a non-habit forming alternative to pain relief.
CBD is anxiolytic
Anxiolytic is a word describing a drug that is used to reduce anxiety. CBD has been researched and discovered to be helpful in reducing anxiety related to public speaking, PTSD, panic disorders, and anxiety disorders.
CBD has neuroprotective properties
A study from 2018 discovered CBD to have a positive impact on diseases to “include adjunctive treatment for malignant brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and the childhood seizure disorders Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. In addition, psychiatric and mood disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, addiction, postconcussion syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorders are being studied using phytocannabinoids.”
Is CBD safe for athletes?
As with any supplement, please consult your doctor before using CBD. The science continues to show CBD to be an incredibly helpful supplement for a variety of reasons, with little to no side effects.
And… the WADA has removed it from their list of restricted substances. So CBD away!