Why have the FCN partnered with Fourfivecbd and what is CBD?
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol and is one of many cannabinoids, or molecules produced uniquely by the cannabis family. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary psychoactive element in marijuana), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t have a strong effect on cognitive brain activity and doesn’t cause the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD was made ‘legal’ by WADA in 2018.
What is THC?
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. THC is one of many compounds found in the resin secreted by glands of the marijuana plant. THC stimulates cells in the brain to release dopamine, creating euphoria and t also interferes with how information is processed in the hippocampus, which is part of the brain responsible for forming new memories. THC is still banned by WADA in-competition.
WADA Stance on CBD…
In January 2018, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) made it ‘legal for athletes for athletes to use CBD. THC however, is still banned in-competition.
Why do athletes use CBD?
There are many benefits to the use of CBD, some of which have been studied in depth and some of which are individual dependant and not necessarily proven by research.
Benefits could include:
- anti-inflammatory properties
- reduction of chronic pain
- support of a good nights sleep
There are even cases and research into the benefits of CBD for anxiety & depression and those who suffer from epilepsy, arthritis and skin conditions.
Why have the FCN partnered with a CBD producer?
Whilst cbd now seems to be everywhere in the health and fitness market and whilst WADA have approve it’s use, there are still a high number of unregulated and un-checked CBD products on the market. Many products say one thing on the label and contain another in the bottle. And this is where the pitfall lies. CBD is a legal substance, but certain products may contain traces of banned (in-competition) products such as THC.
We at the FCN want to educated our coaches and athletes and provide them with a high grade product, one which has been approved by Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG).
We want to stop coaches and athletes buying badly sourced CBD products and risking the potential of failing a drugs test.
Why Fourfivecbd?
Fourfivecbd is the only cbd brand that was created by drugs-tested athletes for drugs tested athletes. George Kruis and Dom Day, both international Rugby players (for England and Wales respectively) and founders of Fourfivecbd use cbd as part of their daily routine, helping them keep a healthy lifestyle throughout the highs and lows of professional sport.
Fourfivecbd is the only cbd brand in the world with a 0% THC product and has been awarded a Gold Standard by Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG).
Fourfivecbd is the only cbd brand in the world with a 0% THC product
More information for Drugs-Tested athletes…
Can CBD really appear in a drug test?
Drugs tests don’t tend to test for CBD specifically, so if you are taking a 100% CBD product you shouldn’t have much to worry about. The use of CBD has recently been cleared by the World Anti Doping Association for use in sports (Jan 2018). However, what drug tests do test for, when testing CBD, is the traces of THC metabolites that may have entered your system with CBD. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound of cannabis that causes you to get high and is banned in most sports and work testing programmes.
Still, within the CBD market, there is a lot of grey areas when it comes to the THC content within a chosen CBD product. By law, all CBD has to be 0.2% THC or below in the UK and 0.3% THC in the US. Any reputable brand will be well within these limits and will be able to provide test certificates to prove this. Many people believe that the CBD they consume is THC free, but this depends on where they source their CBD from and what product they buy.
How can CBD fail your drugs test?
If you where to fail a drugs test for CBD it would most likely be down to the two following issues:
1). If the CBD product you take has THC in it (even traces, although highly unlikely)
2). The CBD product you take has been exposed to cross-contamination of banned substances. This is usually through poor manufacturing practice (e.g. THC or other banned substances that find their way into the products).
How can I prevent CBD from failing a drugs test?
To avoid failing a drugs test you should avoid buying CBD from an unreliable producer or buying cheap CBD products. Always make sure that your CBD is pure and THC-free by getting your products from a verified reputable source.
Many companies can provide fully tested 0% THC products. However, there are very few, if any, that can provide cross-contamination proof. Within the UK sports marketing, Informed Sports is the current benchmark standard for tested supplements and currently does not test CBD.
This puts athletes who want to use CBD in a tough place. George Kruis (fourfive CBD co-founder) says:
“If you are in any doubt then it is best to wait for a product that is firstly tested for THC and secondly tested for other contaminations. At the moment we know of no companies that do this and are excited to announce that in the near future we will have a product that ticks both those boxes specifically made for tested individuals.”
If you are a drug tested athlete then don’t take the risk of buying badly sourced CBD oil.
