UK Sport denies putting British athletes at risk with ‘novel’ drink at London 2012 Olympics

Mail on Sunday reported that energy drink DeltaG exposed athletes to health and competitive concerns

UK Sport has denied putting athletes in danger at London 2012 (AFP/Getty)

UK Sport has denied putting athlete’s welfare at risk after a national newspaper claimed British Olympians had been given an experimental substance ahead of London 2012.

The Mail on Sunday reported public money was used to provide a select band of athletes with an energy drink called DeltaG, claiming there were no guarentees the product did not cause side-effects and nor was it certain to be cleared by WADA (World Anti-doping Agency).

But, in a statement issued in response to the story, UK Sport said they had consulted with both WADA and UK Anti-Doping before using the product to make sure it complied with guidelines – and that the health of athletes would not be put on the line for the sake of an improved medal haul.

“UK Sport does not fund research projects aimed at giving our national teams a performance advantage at the expense of athlete welfare,” the statement read.

PA