The Sports and Fitness Industry Approach to Athletes Using CBD

The CBD movement is growing stronger every day, with more and more users looking to CBD for pain relief, anxiety relief, and much more. However, there is still some controversy surrounding CBD (cannabidiol), and one frequently asked question is this: Can athletes use CBD? Should athletes use CBD? Does it make a difference what kind of CBD they use? The sports and fitness industry, particularly at a competitive level, is highly regulated and this article will focus on the sector’s approach to athletes using CBD.

Are Athletes Legally Allowed to Use CBD?

From 2018, athletes are permitted to use CBD. Prior to 2018, CBD use was a bannable offense. Since then, we’ve learned more about CBD and its benefits, and it is now accepted by the industry that CBD is not a performance enhancer and therefore the industry approach to athletes using CBD has changed.

It’s worth noting that while CBD products are fine for athletes to take, cannabis is not. So, when an athlete is buying their CBD products, it’s important to make sure that they’re buying the right kind – one that won’t get them banned from their sport. The crucial element is the amount of THC in a product. THC is the substance that creates the “high” effect of cannabis.

This is where CBD can get a little confusing. After all, it’s from the same plant as cannabis – why is one acceptable and one unacceptable? Let’s discuss more the different types of CBD oil you might find.

Full Spectrum vs Broad Spectrum CBD

For an athlete, the first and foremost concern will be whether a supplement will affect their overall performance and recovery rate, noting that this relates to the overall wellbeing of an athlete as opposed to a drug that will enhance a specific performance. The best way to think about this is in terms of how a proper diet can improve an athlete’s performance. Taking CBD should be considered in the same way.

There are three main types of CBD oil.

• Full Spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD oil uses all parts of the plant which includes THC. However, there are only trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum CBD.

• Broad Spectrum

Broad-spectrum CBD oil also uses all parts of the plant, with the exception of THC. It contains no THC at all and tends to be harder to find than full spectrum products.

• CBD Isolate

This is the purest form of CBD oil, with the least amount of compounds from the cannabis plant.

Because of concerns about levels of THC, it might be best for an athlete to take broad-spectrum CBD, at least until they’re used to taking CBD products and have a better knowledge of what they are purchasing.

CBD is available as gummies, powders, drinks, capsules, or even topical creams and lotions. This makes taking CBD on a regular basis an easy thing to add to a daily routine.

When purchasing CBD online, do always ensure you are dealing with a reputable UK-based CBD company that provides full product information, ideally including lab reports so you know exactly what is in the product you are purchasing.

For CBD full-spectrum oil, for example, you could try these capsules from Beliebis UK Ltd. The website also has a variety of types and methods of taking CBD oil for you to experiment with.

Benefits of CBD for Athletes

There’s a good reason why athletes are using CBD more than ever. Benefits include:

• Stress reduction
• Faster recovery times
• Better sleep quality
• Stronger immune system

These are all benefits that aid overall levels of health and wellbeing and therefore can help improve fitness levels and ease of recovery after training.

If any of these benefits sound appealing, CBD might be a good fit for your lifestyle, even if you are not an athlete!

The Bottom Line

Stress reduction is one of the most attractive features of CBD oil, and it can be particularly useful for athletes, who lead notoriously fast-paced lives.

If you’re an athlete thinking about trying CBD oil, it’s wise to consult with your doctor before starting any kind of supplement. While CBD is an approved substance, cannabis is not – so be careful! UKAD, the UK Anti-Doping Association, makes it very clear the cannabidiol CBD is not a banned product per se, but it is the athlete’s responsibility to ensure they take appropriate products so that THC in the athlete’s bloodstream does not exceed acceptable levels.

The legislation regarding CBD products is continually changing so, as we have already mentioned, always ensure you purchase from a reputable source. Additionally, if you are an athlete, do ensure you are up to date with the sports and fitness industry’s approach to athletes using CBD.