Why athletes take supplements: from creatine to ancient grains

The use of supplements in elite sport traces back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, when British athletes began using creatine — a substance that boosted muscle mass and performance without breaching doping rules. By the 1996 Games, an estimated 80% of athletes were taking it, and creatine has since become one of the most researched sports supplements.

Prof Graeme Close of Liverpool John Moores University says studies suggest up to 90% of athletes use some form of supplement, while in teams he has worked with the figure is close to 100%. Still, he describes supplements as the "final piece of the jigsaw" rather than a starting point — athletes who nail their overall diet often outperform those who chase small supplement-driven gains while neglecting the basics.

The global supplements market was valued at $209.5bn in 2025 and is projected to grow to $431.7bn by 2033.

Anti-doping risks

The World Anti-Doping Agency places a substance on its banned list if it meets at least two of three criteria: danger to health, performance enhancement, or conflict with the spirit of sport. Even legal supplements can be contaminated with prohibited substances — testing body Informed Sport estimates this affects around one in ten products. British rower Heidi Long keeps a spreadsheet logging the batch number and expiry date of every product she takes to avoid an inadvertent anti-doping violation.

Back to basics

Many athletes also favour a "food-first" approach using unprocessed alternatives such as turmeric, pickle juice or beetroot. One trend gaining attention is teff, an ancient Ethiopian grain rich in minerals and a complete protein source, now used by boxer Fran Hennessy, who credits it with boosting her energy and aiding recovery.