In Brazil, the indiscriminate use of different drugs, for both ergogenic and aesthetic purposes, has attracted attention and caused concern. Such use is being increasingly spread in environments where physical exercises are practiced, especially gym academies and sports associations.
Most of the times, it comes from an illegal trade, with no control from sanitary surveillance departments, carried out in the physical exercise practice facilities, and with direct or indirect involvement of the professional in charge of the physical exercise sessions. Typically, under these circumstances, there is no prescription from a specialist physician and/or guidance from a sports science-trained dietitian, who are the qualified professionals to act in such context. What should be considered only for specific circumstances, and always under control of qualified professionals, tends to be used by individuals, with no indication whatsoever. The financial interest prevails on the well-being and health of the population. And even when there is the involvement of physicians and dietitians, many a time the recommendation for use of products is made empirically, with no specific knowledge nor scientific grounds to support it.
This is due, in part, because of the lack of knowledge that a balanced, quality meal, except for special circumstances, meets the nutritional needs of a physical exercise practitioner, even a competition athlete, making unnecessary the use of food supplements.
When one deals with the use of some drugs and hormones of proven ergonogenic effect, but that poses health hazards and are considered doping substances, he faces not only an anti-ethical, but even a criminal situation. If it is proven the prescription was deliberate, professional who did it can be legally punished by a court of law.
Another aspect that justifies this consensus document is the existence of cases in which there are flaws in meals and fluid replacement schemes that restrain sports performance and place the health of physical exercise practitioners at risk, even of death. Such is the case of dehydration, often seen in long-course athletic contests.
This consensus document had the input of eminent professionals and researchers of sports medicine and other sports sciences in Brazil, and its main purpose is to add to an education process, by conveying information that may be used as guidelines for professionals who work in the field of sports and act on physical exercises program for the overall population. This information is intended to reach the main stakeholders, who are the physical exercise practitioners, whether they are competitive athletes or anonymous members of gym academies or other places where sports are practiced, to preserve their health by making them less vulnerable to nefarious actions from unqualified and/ or ill-will individuals. Ultimately, its purpose is to demystify improper attitudes that, in spite of lack of scientific grounds and with potential health risk, are quite common in the physical exercise practice environment. It aims to disseminate the use of proven healthy practices, to allow for the best sports performance.
