On athletes and herbal supplements – The Tired Eye
Published: 7 October 2014
The news that Malaysian wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen failed a drugs test at the Asian Games came as a big blow to the nation. Not only did Tai – who bagged our first gold at the games – have the medal and placing withdrawn, but it also put Malaysian sports in a bad light.
This incident also came quickly after news of our other athletes failing their drugs test – Sukma weightlifter and gold medallist Jelinie Empera, Federal Territories cyclist Dhia Danial Kharil and Perlis weightlifter Siti Fazera Ishak.
In Tai’s case, tests reportedly found traces of sibutramine, which is widely used to control weight gain. Yet, the very same ingredient is banned in developed countries because it can cause strokes.
As for Jelinie, the Sarawakian reportedly tested positive for anabolic steroids.
In both cases, the athletes denied deliberately ingesting the drugs but did indicate that they were taking traditional or herbal supplements.
And this is where the problem lies. First of all, it is hard to prove that one had unknowingly ingested a banned substance. Then, there is that lack of awareness towards the possible consequences of taking herbal supplements.
Being Asians, we have a long standing relationship with herbs, herbal remedies and supplements. Many of us have grown up with the notion that because herbs are plants, and plants are natural, herbal remedies and supplements are safe.
We take herbal soups, drinks and raw mixes of roots, leaves, fruits and plants in powder or tablet form because some of our elders say that these are good for health, help with general well-being and are of course, natural.
Of course, some of these herbal supplements and remedies undoubtedly make us feel better.
Plants have been used to treat ailments over centuries. Science has shown that plants themselves contain many different types of chemicals – some useful, others potentially harmful.
It has been reported that 25% of modern medicine being prescribed today contain ingredients that are plant based.
Let us take for example steroids. According to a friend who works in the medical line, steroids come in many forms, and some forms of steroids can also be found in fungi, animals and plants.
Steroids are controlled chemicals and different types of steroids are used in treating conditions that range from late puberty, to allergies and muscle loss.
In an article titled “Natural Steroid Plants”, Livestrong.com explains different types of steroids found in herbs that are used by cancer patients for pain relief and to counter muscle deterioration.
Without proper laboratory tests, there is no telling what some herbal remedies or supplements prepared from plants may contain.
Because of the belief that herbs are natural and safe, many people have the notion that the more they consume, the better; without realising the damage that they could cause to their bodies.
The research on chemical elements found in herbs that are useful and even harmful to humans is still being carried out all over the world, and as with most research, the journey is long and daunting, with many experiments and verifications to be made.
On the other hand, let us not forget that there are unscrupulous manufacturers of herbal supplements who are out to make a quick buck. Let us take Tai’s case as an example.
Tai had indicated that as an athlete, she was taking herbal supplements to help her manage her weight, which again, most of us Malaysians think is the ‘safe’ thing to do.
But if we took the time to dig further, we would find that there have been many cases where manufacturers of herbal supplements adulterate their products to make them seem effective by adding on additional chemicals, just so that people will keep buying and even promoting their supposedly natural herbal supplements.
In May 2011, the European Union imposed stringent controls and bans on many herbal remedies and supplements for safety reasons. In EU countries, herbal supplements are regulated as pharmaceutical drugs.
Because of these stringent controls in developed countries, many of these products find their way to our shores. We are bombarded with advertisements of such products online, and even over social networks.
Perhaps it is time that Malaysia too raised the bar on its enforcement on the influx of banned or unverified and untested supplements in the market. More importantly, there is a necessity for better education for athletes, their families, coaches and even sports authorities towards needing to be careful in the supplements that they take.
This initiative to educate is especially urgent in Malaysia where unregulated herbal supplements are found being sold cheaply and in abundance, even in coffee-shops! – The Borneo Post, October 7, 2014.
*The Tired Eye is a columnist at The Borneo Post.
*This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.