The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Use of caffeine in sport

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today said the Australian Government would do everything possible to assist the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in its assessment of the use of caffeine by elite athletes.

“It is important the international watchdog on anti-doping in sport has access to the best available information on any matter, allowing it to make informed decisions. Australia will be providing all the data it has available on caffeine to assist WADA in its consideration of this issue.” said Senator Kemp.

“There has been a lot of reporting on this issue recently, some of it ill informed. It is important to understand the facts. Caffeine has never been banned outright. It has always been permitted under a certain level, because it occurs widely in food and beverages. Until January 2004 caffeine was on WADA’s Prohibited List and therefore banned over a certain level,” Senator Kemp said.

“In January 2004, caffeine was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List, and placed on their Monitoring Program, meaning that while elite athletes are allowed to use caffeine under WADA’s anti-doping code, WADA would continue to monitor its use around the world.

“WADA has a specialist List Committee which reviews the Prohibited List and the Monitoring Program annually in September. I note WADA’s CEO, David Howman has indicated the WADA List Committee is scheduled to meet in September this year, in line with its normal program of review.

“The Australian Government supports the WADA Anti-Doping Code. We have been a significant player in the development of the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping now formally supported by 163 Governments around the world. We played a significant role in the drafting of WADA’s Anti-Doping Code and we are a major player in the development of the UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention which is expected to be supported by a majority of countries in October this year.

“Against this background, Australia will continue to support WADA as we have done in the past in its consideration of the caffeine issue and other issues as they arise.

Senator Kemp said he was concerned about recent reports on the use of caffeine in sport. It is clear that inappropriate use of caffeine raises health issues and side effects, and it is important that athletes are well aware of these implications.

“There is also a role model issue. It is important that children are taught about good nutrition, skill development, and building their game knowledge. That is how kids can best improve their performance, not by taking caffeine.” Senator Kemp said.