The head of Holland’s anti-doping unit has expressed his concerns about ketones, saying they were a grey area.
The supplement, which Dutch pro cycling team Jumbo-Visma has been using, is perfectly legal.
It is classed as a supplement rather than a performance-enhancing or doping product and it is not banned.
However, the Dutch anti doping chief Hermans Ram – who has been in his
position almost 15 years – has told the Dutch media ketones were a grey area.
"It is a legal nutrition but, at the same time, too little is known
about the possible health consequences," Ram told newspaper De Limburger.
"That makes it a grey area. It is not on the doping list, but if
we receive questions from athletes, we advise them not to use ketones.
“Team Sunweb does not use them for that reason, either. I find it
uncomfortable that Jumbo-Visma does."
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Ketones are produced in the liver when the body does not get enough fuel
from food. It causes the body to switch the primary source of cellular energy
to fat from glucose.
This breaks down internal fat stores to make ketones that feed the brain.
The drinks are said to have a very significant impact on performance and
recovery.
Jumbo-Visma was forced to comment on their use of the supplement during last year’s Tour de France.
Lance Armstrong had discussed the drink on his podcast and some of the European media then sought comment from Jumbo-Visma as it was riding so well and Armstrong linked the team to ketones.
The Dutch team has defended its use of the supplements, saying it had done nothing wrong and adding there was no long term health impact.
The supplement was created by a team at Oxford University in response to a
challenge from the US Army seeking the most efficient fuel for troops going
into battle.
In April, 2018, San Francisco company HVMN was granted a commercial licence to manufacture what has been reported as the world’s first ketone ester drink.
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