REVISED

SUPPLEMENT NO. 19

DI C/C Cabinet 6/08

REPORT OF THE

NCAA COMMITTEE ON COMPETITIVE SAFEGUARDS AND

MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS

1. LEGISLATIVE ITEMS.

a. Action Items.

(1) Noncontroversial Legislation – Bylaw 16.5.2.g Nutritional Supplements.

(a) Recommendation. Adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw16.5.2.g as follows:

Nutritional Supplements. An institution may provide only nonmuscle-building permissible nutritional supplements to a student-athlete at any time for the purpose of providing additional calories and electrolytes lost through athletics activity, provided the supplements do not contain any NCAA banned substances. Permissible nonmuscle-building nutritional supplements are identified according to the following classes: Carbohydrate/electrolyte replacement drinks, energy bars, calorie replacement products carbohydrate boosters and vitamin and mineral supplements. Nutritional supplement products shall contain no more than 500 calories per product or drink, contain no more than 30 percent of calories from protein, and not exceed the Tolerable Upper Level Intake (UL) for any vitamin and mineral element, as identified by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institutes of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, 2004. (effective for products purchased after 8/1/08)

(b) Rationale. Good nutrition is critical to health, injury prevention, and performance in the classroom and on the field. At its December 2007 meeting, the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) conducted a review of Bylaw 16.5.2.g, Nutritional Supplements, within the context of supporting student-athlete well-being and protecting health and safety. At its June 2008 meeting CSMAS further recommended how best to clarify the language to reflect the original intent of this legislation, which was to allow institutions to provide nutritional supplement products to student-athletes that assist with replacing calories and fluids lost through athletics activity. The committee notes that many supplement products are promoted to the membership as performance-enhancing (ergogenic) aids rather than for the purpose of replacing the additional calories and fluid lost through athletics activity. CSMAS recommends modifying the language of the bylaw to create clarity and assist member schools in applying the bylaw fully within the original intent of the legislation. In line with the interpretation that products may have no more than 30 percent of calories from protein, the committee recommends that products do not exceed 500 calories per product. By identifying 500 calories per product, the member school has been provided information to assist them in procuring supplement products that meet the intent of the legislation, but that do not unduly restrict them in the case where a student-athlete may need more than one calorie replacement bar, gel or drink on a given day

For vitamins and minerals, the committee notes there exists a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamins and minerals, and in no case should any vitamin and mineral element exceed the Tolerable Upper Level Intake (UL) as identified by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institutes of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, 2004. By following this recommendation, institutions reduce the risk of providing products with toxic levels of any vitamin or mineral.

The committee recognizes the challenges presented to the membership in determining what nutritional supplement products are permissible, and recommend that the lens of “appropriate” for nutritional health be applied to a review of any product under consideration. Institutions have an obligation to create an environment that supports student-athlete health and safety, and to accommodate nutrition demands directly resulting from athletics participation. CSMAS emphasizes the basic tenet that student-athletes should meet their nutritional needs through the consumption of a variety of whole foods, and that supplement products should not replace food. The committee reiterates its concern about the purity, efficacy and safety of many nutritional supplement products.

The committee expressed a strong sentiment toward feeding student-athletes meals and snacks rather than relying on supplement products. The committee also questioned whether this current permissive benefit has been abused as a recruiting tool, a performance enhancer, or as meal replacements when schedules keep student-athletes from eating food during campus dining hours. The committee will continue to review the appropriateness of this policy vis-à-vis student-athlete well-being.

Good nutrition is critical to health, injury prevention, and performance in the classroom and on the field. Poorly nourished student-athletes will not reach their potential and are at greater risk for long-term health concerns. The committee recognizes that a registered dietitian with expertise in sports nutrition could provide guidance and education to both staff and student-athletes. CSMAS encourages awareness of good nutrition practices and avoidance of over-reliance on supplement products that may be performance detracting and potentially harmful to student-athlete health and eligibility.

(d) Student-Athlete Impact. No additional burden and student-athletes will benefit from a more appropriate approach to nutritional supplementation.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

a. CSMAS Chair. The committee makes notice its intent to name Debra Runkle, University Medical Coordinator, Head Athletic Trainer & Assistant Athletics Director at the University of Dubuque, as the next chair of the committee, effective September 2008. As has been approved by the Management Council in the case where a chair rises to the position in the fourth year of committee service, Ms. Runkle will serve for two years in this position, extending her committee service by one year.

b. CPR/First Aid Training Educational Initiative. The committee will undertake an educational initiative to identify resources and strategies to the membership to assure that emergency response plans and resources are in place to protect injured or ill student-athletes.

c. Medical Exceptions. Requests from the membership for approval for student-athlete use of medications that contain NCAA banned substances have increased in recent years. The committee recommends providing additional education to the membership on the appropriate protocol for a medical exception to be granted, which requires prior notice by the student-athlete to his or her athletics department that they are prescribed such medication, and thorough documentation of the need for the use of the medication. An article addressing this issue was disseminated this spring through the newsletter to compliance coordinators.