European Anti-Doping Leaders Flag Contaminated Supplements as Top Risk

9 July 2026

A newly published study of European National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) has revealed that dietary supplements remain the single highest contamination risk for athletes, with leaders across the continent strongly pointing to intensive education as the most effective line of defence. The study, carried out by Lauritzen & Petrou, 2026, surveyed leaders from 32 European NADOs to map out their core Strategic priorities and barriers to operating an effective anti-doping programme.

Dietary Supplements Ranked as Highest Contamination Risk

The study's most significant finding was that 68% of NADO leaders categorized dietary supplements as a high risk for involuntary doping violations due to contamination. By contrast, risks from environmental or food-chain contamination were viewed as minimal. Because many commercial supplements are manufactured in facilities that handle prohibited substances, or contain unlisted ingredients, athletes face an ongoing risk if they use untested products. Under the strict liability principle of anti-doping rules, an athlete is ultimately responsible for any substance found in their body, regardless of how it got there.

Education is the Best Deterrent

When asked about the best way to prevent anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs), NADO leaders overwhelmingly pointed to carrying out values-based education programmes with athletes. 52% of leaders signalled that practical educational programmes are the most effective way of stopping violations before they happen.

The Role of Informed in Supporting NADOs

At Informed, we work closely with anti-doping bodies worldwide to help develop their supplement policies and support their athlete education programmes by providing clear, actionable guidance on how to identify third-party tested products. To protect athletes and embed this crucial learning long-term, this collaborative work cannot be a one-off initiative. Ongoing education is essential to mitigating the persistent risk of contaminated supplements in sport.

An abstract of the study can be found here