In the world of sports, there have been some pretty prominent current and former athletes who have endorsed their use of cannabidiol—also known as CBD—including Megan Rapinoe, Rob Gronkowski, Lucas Glover, and Ryan VandenBussche.  However, even while these individuals have been heralded for their athletic achievements, many questions and doubts still remain over whether athletes should use CBD.  In this article, we will give some facts and potential benefits that hopefully serve to answer all of your questions. 

Will CBD Disqualify Me from Competition?

Let’s begin by answering the biggest worry that most athletes have when considering using CBD—namely, will it show up on a drug or doping test and if so, will it disqualify you?  The answer to this particular query is simply “no.” 

According to a 2018 ruling by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a foundation that is operated by the International Olympic Committee and largely responsible for setting the standards when it comes to monitoring the fight against drugs in sports, CBD is permitted in competition. However, it’s important to note that CBD is the only cannabinoid that is legal for competition—other cannabinoids are still prohibited as some contain THC.  Therefore, when buying a CBD oil or CBD product, it is important to know exactly what is in it. Make sure you are able to verify third-party testing so you can understand not only what is contained in the CBD oil you are purchasing, but also able to verify the purity and quality of its manufacturing process. 

The Benefits of CBD to Athletes

Now that we have addressed the elephant in the room, let’s get on to the benefits that CBD oil could offer to an athlete.  According to research, CBD shows significant promise in helping to alleviate pain as well as reduce inflammation, which could be largely beneficial to athletes who are looking to recover after participating in intense training or competitive activity. 

In addition to this, there are other potential benefits, including:

• The potential to reduce anxiety and stress—Prior to a competition, it is natural to feel nervous and on edge.  CBD could help minimize the stress response many athletes experience by creating the right amount of anti-anxiety and anti-stress hormones in the brain. 
• The potential to strengthen one’s immune system—CBD contains properties that can help the body improve its resistance to infections and stress and enable the organs to remain in top condition.  Of course, this is not only a perk for athletes, but really for any person who wants to feel their best. 
• The potential to enhance sleep and relaxation—Studies suggest that CBD can provide a certain level of calmness and regulate the sleep-wake cycle, which is key to achieving relaxation and sleep. And because sleep is so important to overall health and wellness, as well as recovery after a hard workout or competition, this can help an athlete wake up feeling more energetic and rested, and ready to take on whatever challenge is coming next. 

There are other potential benefits of using CBD oil during athletic training and competition, including increasing endurance and muscle gain as well as protecting gut health and ensuring health weight management. Of course, if you are an athlete who is considering implementing CBD oil in your training plan, we encourage you to do your research, consult with a medical doctor or athletic trainer, and seek out only high-quality products. 

Asé Pure Naturals happens to be one of those CBD companies that places much importance on only producing best-in-class CBD tinctures and products—and we invite you to check out our full offering. Additionally, if you have any questions about our manufacturing process, test results, or the benefits you could potentially experience when using one of our CBD oils, we welcome the opportunity to talk with you.  Contact us today.