Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle had three of her nine supplements - recommended by an experienced nutritionist - tested for banned substances. She read the ingredient labels carefully and googled their names with the phrase "doping". But the IBU rejected the idea of accidental ingestion and slapped her with the same 2-year ban that a Russian using EPO received on the same day. Is that fair?
Nutrition expert Georgie Fear explains how to ward off illness when training volume is at its highest. "As the season approaches, athletes want to be strong, fast, and lean, and putting in the hours to train is essential," she says. "It’s also critical for good nutrition to be a part of your routine."
There's a correlation between the use of nutritional supplements and the willingness to dope; but why, and how? Does one cause the other? Plus, quick reads on whether caffeine improves ski performance (hint: it does!) and if minimalist footwear really helps approximate the mechanics of barefoot running.