Navigating the NCAA's Stance on Energy Drinks: A Guide for Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) maintains a strict list of banned substances to ensure fair play and protect the health of college athletes. In recent years, energy drinks, particularly Celsius, have come under scrutiny due to their ingredients and potential impact on athletic performance. This article delves into the NCAA's regulations regarding energy drinks, caffeine, and related substances, providing athletes, coaches, and anyone interested with a comprehensive overview.

NCAA's Banned Substances List and Energy Drinks

Just like any other year, in 2022, the National Collegiate Athletic Association posted their banned substances list. That year’s iteration, however, was updated to include the energy drink Celsius and many of its ingredients, including guarana, taurine, ginseng, and L-carnitine. As a result of these ingredient bans, many other energy drinks have been banned, and Celsius is facing lawsuits from the NCAA. So what does it mean for a substance to be banned by the NCAA? In short, this means that if an athlete tests positive for any of the substances on the banned list, they can face punishment by the organization and/or their school. By signing a contract to compete at the collegiate level, athletes give permission to be tested for banned substances. While there are year-round required tests for steroids, drugs, and otherwise illegal substances, athletes are only tested for substances like caffeine if there is a reason to believe that they have exceeded the allowed amount. Athletes are allowed to consume these ingredients in moderation, and on non-competition days.

Caffeine and Guarana: A Closer Look

One of the main ingredients in Celsius and many other energy drinks is guarana, made from the seeds of the Paullinia plant. These seeds contain 2-8% of caffeine, which is a considerably larger percentage than coffee beans, which only contain 1-3%. In general, the NCAA bans caffeine in drinks if the beverage contains more than 15 milligrams of caffeine per milliliter. Studies have shown that caffeine has the ability to decrease or increase athletic performance, depending on the consumer and the quantity. Caffeine has also been found to increase the speed of muscle contractions, making simple movements, such as kicking a soccer ball or taking a stroke while swimming, faster and stronger, which gives athletes an unfair advantage.

It's important to understand that every athlete responds differently to varying amounts of caffeine, so dosing for performance should be done gradually and tested in training before use during competitions. The study also found that drinking 1 Celsius is equivalent to drinking 4-5 cups of coffee.

The focus is caffeine in-take for athletes. So, Celsius drinks specifically are not banned. Where the ban has caused concern from some athletes, others are not as affected by the ban. “I have never even heard of Celsius before,” said senior UCLA wideout Logan Loya.

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Other Banned Ingredients and Their Effects

Another banned ingredient, Taurine, has been found to affect heart health when combined with large amounts of caffeine, is also considered a performance enhancing substance, and has been shown to increase anxiety and disrupt sleeping patterns. Ingredients such as ginseng and L-carnitine have also been found to invoke rapid heartbeat and blood pressure fluctuation. Guarana and taurine are ingredients in many other energy drinks such as Monster Energy, Rockstar Energy, and Red Bull, which have all subsequently been banned by the NCAA.

The Controversy Surrounding Celsius

Most recently, Celsius has faced lawsuits for what the company chose to not list as an ingredient. The company has advertised that their beverages do not contain any preservatives; however, the NCAA is now suing Celsius for containing the preservative citric acid. This is a pressing issue because an argument can be made that if the company fails to include one ingredient on the label, there could be other ingredients that are not listed as well, which leads to transparency issues as to what the consumer is putting in their bodies.

But, the ban stretches far beyond the NCAA; Celsius is also not approved by the Federal and Drug Administration (FDA) due to its use of guarana. According to the findings, “It [Celsius] proved that there are many illegal performance stimulants in the test. Celsius drinks have the illegal banned stimulants of ginseng, guarana, L-carnitine and taurine.

A viral claim about Celsius energy drinks has caught fire online. “Was told MLB provides a list of drinks that have been tested to not flag during drug testing. In response to the viral claim, MLB clarified to Waldon that it only recommends energy drinks that are NSF Certified for Sport. The NCAA bans guarana, a plant naturally rich in caffeine that’s found in several energy drinks, including Monster and Celsius.

Risks and Adverse Effects of Energy Drinks

At Dana, seeing a classmate drinking a Celsius or other kind of energy drink is a daily occurrence. For Cait Klosek ‘24, “having one [Celsius] makes me feel more energized, but I’ve noticed that sometimes when I have two in the same day or few hours, I feel sick and nauseous.” Nausea, jitters, and restlessness are all themes commonly expressed among energy drink consumers at Dana Hall.

A 2021 article by USA Cycling listed four risky substances for competitive athletes, including caffeine and other stimulants commonly found in energy drinks. In 2014, high school football player Dakota Sailor died after drinking two energy drinks before practice. A 2017 Pediatric Emergency Care study found that 40% of teens aged 13-19 who consumed energy drinks experienced at least one adverse effect.

Unlike a regular cup of coffee containing caffeine, the frequent consumption of energy drinks, specifically in young athletes, causes serious health concerns. Many energy drinks contain taurine, guarana, and other harmful stimulants, which increase the effect of caffeine, causing potential cardiovascular risks. Studies prove a daily intake of an energy drink increases blood pressure, potentially causing hypertension, tachycardia, and anxiety, all of which increase the risk of heart conditions (“Energy Drinks and Sports Performance, Cardiovascular Risk, and Genetic Associations; Future Prospects”). Although this may sound unsettling, there is an even greater concern about energy drinks. When caffeine is mixed with additional supplements, such as a stimulant called ephedra, which is a banned substance nationally, but is still duped, it causes a synergistic effect. The synergistic effect is when two or more elements are combined, and instead of creating the same amount of energy they did before, the effect of the elements doubles (“Why energy drinks are more dangerous than you realize and exploring natural alternatives”). Think about a time when you were very nervous before a game and your heart was racing. Now, think of that time, same exact time, but double the amount of anxiety you were feeling, and double the level of your blood pressure. That is the effect a regular 200mg caffeinated energy drink has on your body; it’s really doing more harm to your body than good.

The Argument for Banning Energy Drinks in the NCAA

Fortunately, the NCAA recognizes the concerns around excessive amounts of caffeine, and has put an illegal substance limit on any drug test which records over 500-800mg of caffeine 2-3 hours prior to the event (CELSIUS). Though the NCAA is putting a ban on the amount of caffeine intake, I still don’t believe energy drinks should be allowed. Just drinking 2 energy drinks consisting of 200 mg or more of caffeine can put you over the illegal limit per NCAA rules. Compared to a regular cup of coffee, which could take way more cups than an energy drink to be considered illegal. Also stated above, imagine you are about to compete, you just ingested 500mg of caffeine, but the stimulant amped you up double, so you feel like you’re running on double the amount of caffeine. In my eyes, this only hurts the athlete, causing them more stress and anxiety, only deteriorating their level of performance. That is why I believe a regular intake of caffeine should be allowed under regulated dosages, but energy drinks should be banned. It is a violation of an athlete’s right to have a fair contest. The NCAA should keep the caffeine regulation, but ban energy drinks throughout the NCAA. A ban on energy drinks in the NCAA would protect many young athletes from harmful health conditions.

Celsius's Perspective

Since its founding in 2004, CELSIUS fitness drinks have been enjoyed by the most elite professional and collegiate athletes in sports all over the world. No. CELSIUS contains 200 mg of caffeine per can and recommends that consumers not drink more than 2 per day (or for CELSIUS HEAT®, 1 per day). * Individual test results depend on metabolism and other caffeine consumption on the day of competition. No. * This report is provided for informational purposes only, is general in nature, and is not intended to address each individual’s unique situation.

You may have questions about our product’s ingredients, how safe they are to consume, and how CELSIUS products might affect you as an athlete. Read below for the most frequently asked questions about our products, and get the answers straight from the source.

When combined with other lifestyle factors, drinking CELSIUS beverages each day is safe for most consumers. The FDA advises that drinking up to 400 mg of caffeine - the equivalent to two 12oz cans of CELSIUS Energy Drink - is safe for most individuals. If you are new to energy drinks, we recommend drinking no more than one CELSIUS product in a 24-hour period. CELSIUS energy drinks are not known to cause liver or kidney damage when consumed as recommended.

Celsius products contain a common version of vitamin B12 called cyanocobalamin. The FDA officially approved cyanocobalamin as completely safe. See 21 C.F.R. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) agrees with the FDA that cyanocobalamin is safe. The NIH says that there is no unsafe amount of vitamin B12. Cyanocobalamin is the most common form of vitamin B12 due to its stability and vitamin B12 is found naturally in many natural foods, including fish, red meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Cyanocobalamin is not made from hydrogen cyanide or anything else unsavory. It is made using the same bacteria that makes vitamin B12 in animals.

The independent fact-checking organization VERIFY confirmed that Celsius and Guarana are not banned by the NCAA.

NCAA Regulations on Caffeine

Caffeine is not banned outright by the NCAA, rather it must be limited. there must be more than 15 micrograms per milliliter (ug/ml, parts per million) found in a sample. Olympic Committee Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN), College and Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA) and NCAA Sport Science Institute. looked at caffeine levels in 7,844 urine samples from elite athletes and showed less than 0.87% violated the old World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) threshold of 12 ug/ml. noted, “10mg/kg body mass orally ingested over several hours,” is needed to break the 12 ug/ml caffeine limit in Olympic drug testing.

Popular energy drinks like Celsius, Redbull, Monster, Rockstar and others that contain caffeine and/or guarana are not totally banned by the NCAA.

The Importance of Moderation and Informed Choices

College athletes need to be careful when it comes to caffeine since it is on the NCAA Banned Substances list. While moderate amounts of caffeine can improve athletic performance, too much can actually hurt athletic performance. Overload on caffeine and you will be too anxious and jittery to play and can permanently impact your athletic career if you test positive. While many NCAA student athletes use caffeine daily and don’t test positive, it is possible.

As an athlete myself, I am always looking for a performance enhancing nutrient. Whether the energy is from a new energy bar or a sports drink, I always find the best energy from energy drinks. Oftentimes, I see social or hear media posts about how horrible energy drinks are for athletes’ cardiovascular systems; or my mother, who is a doctor, saying, “Celsius will cause health issues” (Sanderson). Like many other athletes, I ignore this advice because energy drinks will supply me with quick energy for my training and games. However, for high-level athletes, such as collegiate athletes, this is very dangerous. While beverages like sodas and a cup of coffee also contain caffeine, energy drinks contain higher amounts of caffeine, potentially causing overdoses. Regular caffeine is well-proven to be a natural ergogenic; on the other hand, energy drinks not only contain excessive amounts of caffeine but also include extra stimulants and additives, some of which are even toxic to the body (Meyers).

After I attended a nutritionist session for my sport, this was when I realized how horrible energy drinks are, so I decided to research multiple popular drink brands.

tags: #celsius #energy #drink #drug #test #NCAA