Don’t eat meat while training, competing in China, Norwegian sports body tells its athletes
Officials say use of growth hormone clenbuterol by some Chinese farmers can lead to positive dope test
Norwegian athletes have been advised by the organisation responsible for training the country’s elite competitors to not eat any type of meat while competing in China, over fears it could cause a positive doping test.
Olympiatoppen, which is part of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said consuming meat could lead to the unintentional ingestion of banned substances, posing a small but real risk of testing positive.
The 2025 World Athletics Relays will take place in early May at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou, while the Diamond League event in Shanghai is scheduled for May 3, when several Norwegian athletes are expected to compete.
“Studies have shown that athletes have inadvertently ingested clenbuterol when eating meat in China, as some animals are fed hormones to promote growth. If a meat-based meal is consumed before a doping test, the athlete may test positive,” Olympiatoppen stated in their guidelines.
“Therefore, Olympiatoppen advises athletes to avoid all types of meat while in China.”
Clenbuterol has been in the news in recent years as multiple athletes have tested positive for the banned substance, which the World Anti-Doping Agency classifies as an “anabolic agent”.