Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Scottish Athletics and (b) Scottish Schools Athletics regarding the consumption of caffeinated chewing gum, including discussion on any potential health risks that it poses for young people participating in athletics.
Sportscotland has previously provided advice on caffeine to Scottish Athletics, through its Institute of Sport performance nutrition team, to inform their guidance to members. UK Athletics and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) strongly advise a "food-first" approach to nutrition, where a balanced, high-quality diet is used to support training and recovery, before considering any supplements.
If supplements are necessary, they must be chosen carefully to avoid accidental doping violations due to the risk of contamination. UK Athletics' supplement position statement is available here: UK Athletics' Supplement Provision Statement - UK Athletics. While caffeine isn't referenced, fast release caffeine gum falls into the supplement category, and this guidance provides athletes with clear advice on how to reduce risk in supplement use.