"Performance enhancer maker linked to Olympians, including O.C. swimmer".  This is the headline in a recent article on the MSNBC website.

It goes on to suggest that the banned stimulant drug clenbuterol which was discovered during a drug test on swimmer Jessica Hardy probably got there inadvertantly through her taking performance enhancing supplements.  Her coach David Salo goes on to blame the supplement industry as being out of control etc, etc.

Ironically the company her coach is accusing has been actively promoted through Jessica's website for some time now through which she has heaped praise on their supplements.

Supplement companies who produce performance enhancing supplements for athletes are sometimes convenient scapegoats when an athlete gets tested positive.  But, are they really guilty?

It seems odd to me that an athlete will take these supplements and there is no problem until they get to the point of having drug tests.  If they suspect that a supplement has been adulterated with a drug wouldn't you think that they would have had a blood test before it got to that stage?

May be I am being a bit cynical but I find it hard to believe that any reputable manufacture would put a banned drug in their supplements which are being supplied to Olympic athletes knowing that it would be detected. 

I think that Jessica's coach Salo should send some of the supplements which he alleges could contain the drug to an independent laboratory for testing before he starts blaming other people or companies, or indeed making negative comments about the industry as a whole.

There are undoubtly some unscrupulous manufacturers selling questionable and/or adulterated products, but they are far and few between and generally they are distributors or marketers who have product produced under contract.  They make money 'whilst the sun shines' and when they are caught out they can walk away as they have no investment other than their current inventory.  No equipment, facilities, raw ingredients or infrastructure. 

No doubt the truth will emerge in time...but, will the truth be obscured by initial irresponsible reporting ? To read the article please click here.