Right: most so-called "energy drinks" contain caffeine. These drinks have been promoted for years by their makers as "performance-enhancing", but harmless products.
Background information
The AFL has two drug policies -1. The AFL's 1990 Anti-doping code which tests for performance enhancing drugs 365 days a year (this is the same as all other sports in Australia)
The anti-doping procedures involve sample collection (also known as doping control or drug testing). Sample collection detects the use of a prohibited substance, or prohibited method, by an athlete.
Sample collection consists of testing by an anti-doping organisation and sample analysis, by a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sample collection can be either in-competition or out-of-competition (such as at an athlete's training venue or home). The majority of testing is carried out with no-advance-notice. The test can involve the collection of urine, blood or both.
Athletes must comply with a valid request for testing. Athletes may face sanctions if they refuse to comply. The penalty for refusing to provide a sample upon a valid request may be the same as providing a sample that contains a prohibited substance.
The AFL's drug testing program complies with the World Anti-Doping Code, the International Standard for Testing, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Act 2006 and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Regulations 2006 including the National Anti-Doping (NAD) scheme, and the International Organization for Standardization 9001:2008 Standard for Quality Management System.
The AFL supports WADA's Prohibited List which states all those performance-enhancing substances which an athlete is not to take. A full copy of the 2008 Prohibited List can be found at http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2008_List_En.pdf
2. The AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy which was introduced in 2005.
AFL players are also tested to ensure they are not taking any drug which it is illegal to use in Australia.
In 2008, the AFL adopted a series of improvements and enhancements to its out-of-competition Illicit Drugs Policy.
A trial of hair sample testing is conducted when AFL players return from their holiday period. Other policy changes included a further increase in testing of up to 1500 tests every year and the penalty for a third failed test extended to a maximum of 18 weeks, up from 12 weeks.
Effects of caffeine on the performance of athletes
Caffeine is an ergogenic, increasing the capacity for mental or physical labor. A study conducted in 1979 showed a 7% increase in distance cycled over a period of two hours in subjects who consumed caffeine compared to control tests. Other studies attained much more dramatic results; one particular study of trained runners showed a 44% increase in 'race-pace' endurance, as well as a 51% increase in cycling endurance, after a dosage of 9 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight.
The extensive boost shown in these runners is not an isolated case; additional studies have reported similar effects. Another study found 5.5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body mass resulted in subjects cycling 29% longer during high intensity circuits.
However, further studies have indicated that if consumed in too great a quality caffeine can actually reduce the quality of an athlete's performance.
Caffeine has not been on WADA's Prohibited List since 2004.