1. CBD and sports

2. What is CBD isolate?

3. The WADA ruling on CBD

4. CBD at the Tokyo Olympics

5. The role of technology

6. To finish

Doping control results can have serious consequences for athletes at all levels. If an athlete is found to be using performance-enhancing drugs, it can negatively impact their profile and even end their career. This is why professional athletes should always be aware of the substances they use. In this context, we will answer the question of whether CBD is allowed for athletes and how it can benefit sports activities.

1. CBD and sports

The true benefits of CBD for improving athletic performance are still being explored, but some studies have shown that CBD can improve bone health, reduce inflammation, decrease anxiety levels, help stay concentrated and help treat insomnia. Here is a list of key findings on the power of CBD to improve athletic performance.

1.1 Heal fractures and improve bone health

The basis of the body is the bones. For athletes, strong bones and intense preparation for training and competition are essential. Several studies have shown that CBD can enhance collagen production to speed fracture healing. Another study found that CBD can make bones stronger and more rigid when used for healing.

1.2 Reduce inflammation and accelerate healing

For a successful athlete, regardless of the purpose of their training, be it personal goals or participation in high performance international sporting events, rapid healing and reduced inflammation are very important. CBD is well known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows that topical CBD can reduce pain and inflammation, helping athletes recover quickly or improve performance during training and competition.

1.3 Relax the muscles

Like bones, muscles are the foundation of the body, taking care of them is one of the most important steps in preparing an athlete. CBD can help slow the flow of chemicals to muscles, improve the body's supply of endocannabinoids, relax muscles, and reduce spasticity.

1.4 Protect against gastrointestinal (GI) stress

The gastrointestinal system is another vital part of a strong athlete's body. CBD may be a solution for improving the digestive system, as it can reduce cortisol (catabolic hormone) levels and help prevent leaky gut. Gastrointestinal stress symptoms such as nausea and vomiting can seriously affect athlete performance and recovery. CBD may benefit gut health as it helps control appetite and hunger.

1.5 Combat anxiety and sleep loss

Before major competitions or between training sessions, it is essential for athletes to be calm and confident. CBD can help the body develop enough resistance to anxiety by boosting anti-anxiety and anti-stress hormones in the brain, which boosts your mood and self-confidence, allows you to get proper rest and rest. be fully prepared to face new challenges.

If you want to learn more about CBD and athlete conditioning, you can check out our article on the possibility of improving athletic performance with CBD. Likewise, if you want to hear an athlete's personal opinion on the subject, check out our two-part interview with Ilias Bulaid, kickboxer and current mixed martial artist, during which he discussed his experience of CBD use and drug testing after consuming CBD drops.

2. What is CBD isolate?

CBD isolate is one of the must-have products on the market. But why is it so popular and why are we talking about it? First of all, CBD isolate is a crystalline solid or powder that contains pure CBD. The main difference between CBD isolate and other CBD products is that it only contains cannabidiol. What are the other characteristics of CBD isolate? Well, it has no taste or smell and can be consumed in powder form or mixed with other oils like coconut or hemp. Another special feature of CBD isolate is that it is water soluble. This means that isolates can be mixed into different drinks or smoothies. You can read more about CBD isolate and how it compares to broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD products in one of our previous articles.

Since CBD isolate contains only CBD, it may be beneficial for athletes who are concerned that it will be banned internationally. And why ? This is what we will discuss in the next section of the article.

3. The WADA ruling on CBD

The World Anti-Doping Agency or WADA is an international foundation dedicated to research, education, anti-doping capacity building and monitoring compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. The agency's role in professional sport is to lead the international movement for doping-free sport. In addition, the agency includes representatives of the Olympic Movement as well as local authorities.

The most important aspect that we must point out is that WADA does not carry out doping controls. All controls are carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association or VADA. For its part, WADA only provides regulations and instructions. VADA is therefore the regulatory association, but what interests us are the rules of the AMA on CBD.

And what does the agency say about CBD? The compound CBD is not banned by the WADA, while THC is illegal. Some CBD extracts may still contain very low levels of THC, but they too are at risk of being detected in drug tests.

In addition, we remind you that the legal status of CBD is not favorable in many countries around the world. You can read more about the legal status of CBD in Europe on our blog, as well as follow our weekly newsletters for the latest changes to CBD legislation around the world.

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4. CBD at the Tokyo Olympics

The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo have become historic not only because of the current epidemiological situation in the world and the numerous world records in several disciplines, but also because for the first time in history these games allow the use of cannabis products during the preparation phase preceding the competition. So let's talk more about CBD and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Some Olympic athletes promote the use of CBD because it can help muscles and joints recover. Additionally, CBD can help athletes maintain a more regular sleep pattern and may play a role in improving their overall mental well-being between workouts.

Last year, in a study conducted by John Moore at the University of Liverpool, 517 professional rugby players were asked about their use of CBD. A quarter of them said they had used it at some point in their training, and 8% said they continued to do so. About 80% of people surveyed who said they used CBD did so for recovery and pain relief, as well as to improve sleep. About 30% said they used it for anxiety. Don't be fooled by the total percentage of respondents' answers, as they could choose more than one answer.

Nevertheless, THC remains a rejected substance at the Olympics. The suspension of the famous American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson who tested positive for cannabis during an athletics competition in the United States before the Games is proof of this.

5. The role of technology

It is essential not to underestimate the impacts of technological progress on the development of the CBD industry in general and on the use of CBD among sports professionals in particular. In this section, we have grouped the main areas of possible technological growth that could enable athletes of all levels to use CBD.

Extraction technologies

We are now seeing new extraction technologies, such as cold press extraction, emerging that could eventually bring us closer to more natural yielding products. The biggest challenge in this area is to create a mechanism that can ensure 100% compliance with THC level regulations.

New distribution methods

Thanks to technological developments, the industry can offer new routes of administration of CBD that make it more accessible and, in some cases, more effective. Conversely, the introduction of new types of CBD products can pose challenges to lab testing processes, as not all products can be formulated in such a way that all servings have the same potency. Therefore, the development of product-oriented test methods might take some time, while traditional methods might lead to incorrect test results.

Screening technologies

Certified drug testing organizations should continually develop testing techniques for THC and CBD. These tools would make the testing process more cost effective and sensitive enough to accurately detect THC levels.

6. To finish

If you are a professional athlete and are unsure which CBD product to choose, you should definitely opt for CBD isolate, as it does not contain any other compounds. If you want to use full-spectrum CBD oil, for example, remember that there is always a slight risk that THC will be detected in your body, even several days after your last consumption. It should also be remembered that further research is still needed to determine the real benefits of CBD on athletic performance. Finally, be sure to check local CBD laws, as CBD laws vary from region to region. Additionally, if you are an athlete, it is essential to check the CBD regulations of your sporting activity, although the world's leading authority on drugs and sport, the WADA, considers athletes to be free to use CBD.