Salazar, Farah, talk about use of L-carnitine, a legal supplement with 11% performance gains

Farah declined to say when he had taken L-carnitine but said he had not used it during the London 2012 Olympics.

If L-carnitine is legal why isn't every athlete using it? This seems like exactly the type of supplement that WADA should ban, because of the potential health risks involved.

"l-carnitine Side Effects & Safety. L-carnitine is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth and when used as an injection, with the approval of a healthcare provider. It can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, and seizures."

From the paper. Only enough to see something of interest.

"Laid out before the bespectacled Nottingham University academic [Paul Greenhaff] was data from a six-month research study showing that the performances of amateur athletes who had taken NutraMET Sport, his new supplement, had increased by an average of 11%.

"After the results were peer-reviewed and published in The Journal of Physiology in January 2011, Greenhaff’s team received an order for 180 cartons of the supplement, each containing 14 sachets of the powder, at a cost of £3,600.

"The order was made in the name of Alberto Salazar, a respected athletics coach and the head of the Nike Oregon Project."

3,600 should have been 3,600 pounds. LRC eats the British symbol for pounds without warning.

Boosts performance by 11%? Eleven percent of ... ?

"The Carnitine group increased work output 11% from baseline in the performance trial, while Control showed no change."

This is a hard-core research paper, peer reviewed by hard-core researchers.

There is an extremely in depth web page on it here:

http://examine.com/supplements/L-Carnitine/

There are a few different forms of it, Acetyl-L-Carintine (ALCAR) is commonly used as a nootropic, L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (LCLT) is sometimes used in sports for increased performance, and another form called GPLC that is used to control blood flow.

It's all a canard for fanboys. Much easier to get results the good ol' fashioned PED way. Crack open a bodybuilding magazine or visit a BB site - lots of roided up freaks standing in front of product du jour. "While I was supplementing with Charolais bull balls, I put on 50lbs of rock solid muscle", but they fail to leave out the HGH and roids. Same difference with Salazar, NOP isn't pimping anything, but you arent getting the full story.

full text…

A COACH to some of the world's biggest athletics stars, including Mo Farah and Galen Rupp, ordered thousands of pounds' worth of a revolutionary supplement that scientists found can boost performance by up to 11%.

In January 2011 and March 2012, Alberto Salazar, who heads the Nike Oregon Project in the United States, ordered two deliveries of NutraMet Sport, a legal supplement that contains a mixture of a compound named L-carnitine and carbohydrate, from its British developers.

It was found in tests to delay fatigue and reduce lactic acid, which prevents the body overexerting itself.

Studies on athletes by its developers at Nottingham University showed a dramatic improvement in performance within three to six months when it was taken orally.

Further research suggests similar effects could be seen within as little as five hours when the substance is taken into the body via an intravenous drip.

It is legal for athletes to take L-carnitine, a compound that occurs naturally in the body, and it is not on the list of substances banned by the World Athletics Doping Agency (WADA). Some athletes within the Nike Oregon Project took L-carnitine supplements orally but Salazar said they were of "no benefit" and are no longer taken by his team.

Farah, who won Olympic gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m at London 2012, said he had tried an L-carnitine drink but it had not improved his performance.

He said: "I have worked extremely hard for my success. I tried a legal energy drink containing L-carnitine but saw no benefit and actually gained weight so I stopped drinking it."

Farah declined to say when he had taken L-carnitine but said he had not used it during the London 2012 Olympics.

Rupp, Farah's American training partner, who won the silver medal in the 10,000m in 2012, also said he had "briefly" taken L-carnitine "a few years ago" but no longer did so. British Athletics, the sports' governing body in the UK, said: "Over the past few years a small number of British athletes have utilised L-carnitine." It declined to name them.

Former athletes at the Nike Oregon Project have described unease in the camp when L-carnitine was tested using injections. It is understood that two former members of the project contacted the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with concerns over its use. The USADA declined to say if it is investigating.

Emails seen by The Sunday Times appear to show Salazar, who won the International Association of Athletics Federations coaching achievement award in 2013, outlining plans to inject L-carnitine into some of his athletes. Seeking USADA advice in December 2011, he wrote: "I'd like to try this test on a few of my elite athletes."

In another email, written by Salazar in January 2012, he apparently advised several of his athletes on how to respond to questions about L-carnitine from anti-doping officials to ensure they knew it complied with the rules.

"When asked about an [intravenous] infusion, you are to say no," he wrote.

"L-carnitine and iron in the way we have it done is classified as an injection. So no TUEs [therapeutic use exemptions] and no declaration needed, not online and not when asked about infusions when getting drug tested in or out of competition."

The Sunday Times understands that Steve Magness, a former assistant coach on the Nike Oregon Project, agreed to be a "guinea pig" for the injections which, the team hoped, would accelerate the supplement's performance-enhancing effects. A source close to Magness suggested the injections may have "skirted the spirit of the sport".

Physical tests conducted on Magness within days of his injections are believed to have shown improvements in his performance of up to 9%.

As a result it is understood that he withdrew himself from competition for nine months for fear of having an unfair advantage.

Jackie Areson, an American athlete and a member of the Nike Oregon Project at the time of the deliveries, said the drink containing L-carnitine was presented as "a prerequisite" to being part of the team and that she regularly consumed it from October 2011 to April 2012.

Areson also said the results of the tests on Magness prompted members of the team to refer to the procedure as a "goldmine". She said she later refused to have L-carnitine injections. The Sunday Times has no evidence that Farah or Nike were involved in, or had knowledge of, the L-carnitine injections.

The revelations will spark concerns about the use of legal supplements that can potentially provide huge performance improvements to athletes backed by teams that can afford them.

Energy drink companies often claim their products improve performance but the Nottingham University team say that, unlike NutraMet Sport, those claims are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Salazar said: "I believe in a clean sport and a methodical, dedicated approach to training. L-carnitine is a widely available, legal nutritional supplement that is not banned by WADA. A few of my athletes tried it but found no benefit so they no longer use it."

Credit: George Arbuthnott, Iain Dey, Elizabeth Wilson and Robin Henry

full text from the other article…

WHEN Professor Paul Greenhaff saw the results of more than 20 years of painstaking research, he felt a rush of excitement.

Laid out before the bespectacled Nottingham University academic was data from a sixmonth research study showing that the performances of amateur athletes who had taken NutraMet Sport, his new supplement, had increased by an average of 11%.

After the results were peerreviewed and published in The Journal of Physiology in January 2011, Greenhaff's team received an order for 180 cartons of the supplement, each containing 14 sachets of the powder, at a cost of Pounds 3,600.

The order was made in the name of Alberto Salazar, a respected athletics coach and the head of the Nike Oregon Project.

At the time, Salazar was recruiting Mo Farah, by then the reigning European champion at 5,000m, to his stable of athletes.

Farah, who had moved to Britain from Somalia at the age of eight, had set his sights on winning Olympic gold in the capital of his adopted country.

"I've made a big decision to move forward in my career," he said, explaining his decision to uproot his family for the move to America.

"Last year was a great year for me and, if I'm ever going to get close to a medal in a world champs or Olympics in 2012, something needed to change a little bit. I believe [Salazar] can just make that 1-2% difference to get close to a medal."

Despite his fun-loving character -- he later created the "Mobot" celebration pose -- Farah thrived under Salazar's strict regime. He pounded the two-mile wood-chip track at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, near Portland, and absorbed his coach's advice.

Describing his approach, Salazar said: "It's like in war. The soldier has to learn how to fight and do everything -- be physically fit, be a one-man army. But then you try and equip him with every bit of top science -- everything you can -- to keep him alive. That's what we do."

"Every bit of science" included the use of legal supplements, and Salazar was intrigued when a former senior member of Nike's research and development team mentioned Greenhaff's research in 2010.

Before joining Nike the insider, who asked not to be named, claims to have given a drink containing Greenhaff's recipe -- a mixture of the naturally occurring compound L-carnitine and carbohydrate -- to a "world-class British sportsman" and had seen "amazing" results.

It appeared to the insider that Greenhaff had developed a legal sports drink that could increase carnitine content in muscles.

This can result in the body storing up glycogen, which acts like the body's battery, for periods of high-intensity activity. It reduces the build-up of lactic acid, which protects the body from overexertion. Such effects would be particularly useful to endurance athletes.

Greenhaff's tests showed that such effects could be achieved by taking the drink twice a day for 3-6 months.

The order for Salazar in January 2011 was followed by a second shipment in March 2012. They are understood to be the only shipments of NutraMet Sport made by Greenhaff's team.

Salazar last week confirmed "a few" of the athletes on the Nike Oregon Project had used the supplement but that it had provided "no benefit" and was no longer used. He declined to say when the supplement had been used and by whom.

Farah, who secured gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at London 2012, said he had used "a legal energy drink containing L-carnitine" but "saw no benefit" and gained weight.

He said he no longer used the supplement and had not done so during London 2012. However, he declined to say when he had used it.

Galen Rupp, Farah's training partner who won silver in the 10,000m at London 2012, said he had "briefly" tried supplement containing L-carnitine "a few years ago" but no longer used it.

He also declined to say when he had taken the supplement and, in a statement, said: "I have worked and trained hard for over 15 years to get where I am today."

British Athletics, the sport's governing body in the UK, said "a small number of British athletes" have taken L-carnitine in recent years but refused to name them.

"L-carnitine is a legal and scientifically legitimate supplement that can be used by endurance athletes," it said. "To our knowledge, all doses administered and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with [World Anti-Doping Agency] approved protocol and guidelines."

While Salazar says the supplement was of "no benefit", members of the Nike Oregon Project say he was initially "excited" by its potential.

Allan Kupczak, a former team therapist, claims Salazar told him how he had been alerted to a legal L-carnitine supplement that was claimed to have significantly improved the performance of a prominent British cyclist. Kupczak claims Salazar pondered aloud about giving it to Farah and Rupp. Salazar did not respond to a request to comment on Kupczak's claims.

It is not known if Farah was taking -- or was given -- a supplement containing L-carnitine at that time.

After winning gold at the World Championships in South Korea in the summer of 2011, Farah said: "It's been hard work and a lot of sacrifices." Days before, he had won silver in the 10,000m.

In October 2011, Greenhaff says he was asked by a member of the Nike Oregon Project whether the "rate of loading" of the L-carnitine could be increased.

Greenhaff knew it could.

Previous research had shown the carnitine uptake to muscle could be achieved in as little as five hours by infusing the supplement into the body using an intravenous drip.

Weeks later, The Sunday Times understands, Steve Magness, a scientific advisor and assistant coach at the Nike Oregon Project as well as an athlete at the time, was given three injections of L-carnitine over two hours to see whether a performance uplift could be secured within hours rather than months.

Dr Jeffrey Brown, a former paid medical consultant to the Nike Oregon Project, said he had carried out experiments involving L-carnitine injections with permission from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

A spokesman for the agency said: "USADA did not give anybody approval to conduct experiments on athletes. USADA's response to any inquiry about injections would be to point the individual to the WADA rules."

Brown declined to confirm whether the L-carnitine experiments were conducted on Nike Oregon Project athletes.

"If any of those people were patients, I couldn't talk, it's against the law for me to talk," he said.

After the injections, Magness is understood to have taken part in five days of treadmill tests. His performance had improved by 8-9%.

It is believed Magness reluctantly agreed to having the injections and felt he was being used as "a guinea pig". When he saw his subsequent performance results, he is understood to have withdrawn from competition for nine months to avoid having any benefit over other competitors.

Jackie Areson, an American athlete who trained with the Nike Oregon Project at the time, began using the L-carnitine supplement on a daily basis in late 2011.

Areson, who now lives on the Gold Coast in Australia, told The Sunday Times how the success of the L-carnitine injection experiment on Magness triggered excitement in Oregon, with some referring to the procedure as a "goldmine".

She says that she and Magness had discussed her taking the supplement by injection but had eventually decided against it.

"Typically, athletes would mix our own L-carnitine drinks using the ingredients supplied to us," she said. "The standard dosage of L-carnitine ... was to take two L-carnitine drinks per day."

In February 2012, Magness sent Greenhaff an email in which he reported "good gains" and "nice improvements" in the performances of some athletes at the Nike Oregon Project.

There is no evidence that Farah was -- or has ever been -- given injections of L-carnitine, or that Nike was aware of the use of L-carnitine, taken either orally or by injection.

A fortnight after Magness's email to Greenhaff, a second order for NutraMet Sport was made in Salazar's name. Magness left the Nike Oregon Project shortly before the London 2012 Olympics.

Coach who made Mo Before the start of the 1980 New York marathon, Alberto Salazar, a student at Oregon University, said he expected to win and in record time. Not only did Salazar win the race, he repeated the feat in the next two years.

Although never a natural athlete, Salazar had a raw determination that he took into coaching when he was forced to retire for health reasons.

He has been credited with helping to turn Mo Farah into an Olympic and world champion. The Nike Oregon Project was created at Salazar's suggestion in 2001 with the aim of making the American runner Galen Rupp a world champion. Farah joined in 2011.

Salazar, 56, applies psychology and science to his training methods, analysing athletes' blood samples and trying new supplements and vitamins. In 2013 he was awarded the International Association of Athletics Federations' coaching achievement award.

AFTER INJECTIONS, MAGNESS'S PERFORMANCE HAD IMPROVED BY 8-9%

Credit: George Arbuthnott and Iain Dey

Illustration

Caption: Alberto Salazar, top, with Galen Rupp and Mo Farah, ordered a legal supplement developed by Paul Greenhaff, centre. Steve Magness, far left, and Jackie Areson, right, also tried the supplement; MICHAEL STEELE/TERTIUS PICKARD

11% would have been an improvement by Farah of over a minute in a 5000m. He improved in 2011 by maybe ten to twelve seconds. But it doesn't surprise me that Salazar's looking for every legal means of improvement for his runners. He has always said this. But if it does result in an improvement of 2% even, it should probably be banned.

Awesome. That also sheds some light on why Magness may have left NOP several years ago.

These ethical dilemas may also be the reason for other athletes' departures.

Didn't the NOP agent say that someone had a TUE for iron injections? That conflicts a bit with the content in the article, that they did not need to use a TUE for their injections of iron and the supplement.

I watched the lance documentary last week, he had the best doping program in cycling, that is how he beat all the other dopers.

I thought, Rupp is the Lance of cycling, best doping program. That is how the white guy is beating the african dopers. Very clear, sad to say, but very clear.

AlSal will do whatever it takes.

Non story, but it will do well on Letsrun. Salazar orders legal, readily available supplement and even checks in with USADA. They try it out and don't get the gains. Put it on the shelf with beet juice, grape seed extract, on all of the other legal supplements that report to give 10% gains but don't work or do anything for elite athletes. These articles read more like a Nutramet infomercial than anything else. Pretty reaching IMO.

Regarding the iron, I think we're talking about 4-5 years ago. I think all of this is 4-5 years ago.

The stuff on Magness and Aerson is just weird. Not illegal, just weird. If this is all we've got, legal supplements, on the Nike Oregon Project from former "members" than yawn, yawn yawn. From my understanding from knowing a former member, Magness was fired in 2012 for just being a lousy coach. He didn't leave on his own accord. I didn't realize Magness competed for the NOP either. Was he that good?

BTW, I know quite a few endurance athletes (cyclists and long distance runners) that supplement with l carnitine. For years and well before this Nutramet company. I guess when Salazar's boys do it, though, it's bad.

The way I see it you either like taking supplements or you don't. I think those who don't like taking supplements accuse people who are performing at a top level of cheating. Side effects exist with anything you put in your body. The kind of food you eat will have side effects. How much or how little of something you take has side effects. Obviously a line exist but if an athlete wants to take the time to take legal supplements to help improve performance I see no problem with that. Eating really healthy is a performance advantage should we ban that. The point is don't criticize an athlete for trying to gain an edge with a legal substance. From studies I have read it sounds like high doses could have negative effects. Same thing applies to potassium so should we ban that as well? Mo gets a lot of negative attention, I get it but why do people feel he is cheating anymore then say Bekele or others who have run really fast times. Stop getting caught up in validating your point that he is dirty b/c he might be taking a supplement that is not banned.

jjjjjj wrote:

11% would have been an improvement by Farah of over a minute in a 5000m. He improved in 2011 by maybe ten to twelve seconds. But it doesn't surprise me that Salazar's looking for every legal means of improvement for his runners. He has always said this. But if it does result in an improvement of 2% even, it should probably be banned.

Why?

Non story, because you say so does not make it a non-story. Because of the potential for adverse health effects.

From a prior post: "L-carnitine is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth and when used as an injection, with the approval of a healthcare provider. It can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, and seizures."

How is Salazar an approved healthcare provider?

Improved performance, is likely safe, but can cause side effects, is exactly what WADA's charter allows a product to be banned. Only one of the two is necessary: improve performance, or negative side effect.

In untrained or low level endurance athletes nearly anything useful can get similar or superior changes. A carbohydrate supplement alone can produce surprising benefits, even the addition of a few plyometric jumps or a single high intensity interval...

Selectively looking at one substrate or enzyme or another doesn't make much sense because there are many enzymes and substrates contributing to fatigue resistance. Results were actually mixed along these lines.

Looking at glycogen content (especially after low intensity exercise) doesn't mean much since diet was not controlled and muscle recruitment patterns and baseline glycogen stores are notably different in elite endurance athletes

You also need to understand that a handful of subjects doesn't really prove anything.

If Farah actually took the supplement we have to expect endurance benefit but in relation to shorter distance performance. Glycogen sparing becomes more not less meaningful at longer distances. As a marathoner Farah actually faired quite poorly compared to track capability. And as a half marathoner his time ~7.4 x 2mile time for half marathon is actually quite ordinary for trained endurance athletes at sub elite and elite level. And sparing glycogen in a half marathon is actually not going to be very important because the glycogen depletion does not occur.

Now if l carnitine does lower RQ (and thus work of breathing) you need to understand that the same effect can be achieved by putting peanut butter on your morning toast or even just a more complete and specific warmup.

That stuff doesn't do dick. You can buy it at any run of the mill GNC and its ranted and raved about all over the body building forums. It's just an amino acid, like beta alanine which has similar claims, and also doesn't do anything for ya. The only way to see improvement at that level is to train harder/smarter and if that stops working, use real PEDs (which is the real concern for NOP and I hope it hasn't come to that for the sake of the sport). All this article does is stir up drama about a useless product so you'll go out there and buy it.