CBD oil, CBN oil and sport: how does that work?

In the world of sport, CBD oil and CBN oil are used as an aid to recovery after exertion. This also happens in combat sports. These are products based on cannabis plants. Cannabis? Is that not on the doping list? The answer is fairly complicated. In any case, the Dutch anti-doping authority (Dopingautoriteit) advises competitive athletes not to take any cannabis product at all, so no CBD oil or CBN oil either.

What is it?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds produced by cannabis plants. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one such cannabinoid. It is not psychoactive. So it does not make you "stoned" or "high". Research into the possible effects of CBD oil has been going on for years. Producers claim that it helps against anxiety, movement disorders and pain. Most scientists consider the evidence that it works to be insufficient. CBD oil may therefore not be called a medicine. It is sold as a food supplement.

Cannabinol (CBN) is another cannabinoid. Less research has been carried out into CBN-based products. Unlike CBD, CBN can have a mild psychoactive effect in large doses. It is mainly sold as a painkiller and to improve sleep quality. Within the world of sport it is presented as a recovery aid. Here too, there is no scientific evidence that it works.

What does the law say?
The use of and trade in CBD and CBN oil are not prohibited by law. Advertising these products is legally permitted subject to conditions, for example that they are not referred to as a medicine.

What do WADA and the Dopingautoriteit say?
The substance cannabinol (CBN) is on the doping list and is prohibited in competition. In large doses, CBN oil can have a psychoactive effect. It could therefore put you "under the influence". Out of competition, use is permitted. The Dopingautoriteit warns, however, that CBN oil may always contain traces of THC. Because of these traces, a competitive athlete may still test positive up to a month after using CBN. The advice of the Dopingautoriteit to competitive athletes is therefore not to use CBN oil at all.

The substance cannabidiol (CBD) used to be on the doping list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This is the list that the Dopingautoriteit also applies in the Netherlands. In 2018, however, WADA decided to remove CBD from the list. The substance CBD may therefore be used. But here too the Dopingautoriteit warns that CBD oil always also contains other cannabis substances that are on the doping list. According to the Dopingautoriteit, you cannot take CBD oil without also ingesting cannabis substances that are on the doping list.

This is quite apart from the fact that taking doping substances out of competition can sometimes still lead to a positive test in competition several weeks later. The advice of the Dopingautoriteit to competitive athletes is therefore not to use CBN oil and CBD oil at all.

Food supplements? Check NZVT!
Do you want to use food supplements? The Dopingautoriteit recommends taking only supplements that have been tested for doping substances. You can find more information about this at: www.nzvt.nl.