TAKING a supplement to aid in helping achieve a desired protein level doesn't make you a drug cheat.
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But taking that supplement can lead to a professional athlete running the gauntlet of being labelled as one - just ask Australian swimmer Shayna Jack.
Australian paralympic star Ryley Batt has full faith in the drug education lessons that professional athletes are taught.
By not knowing exactly what they are putting into their body means an athlete can inadvertently play a game of Russian Roulette with sports doping agencies.
Supplements are now becoming the go-to for many athletes, but Batt said the message should now be to steer clear.
"Food first; you don't need to take all those supplements," Batt said.
"You should try to get your protein intake from foods, that's the safest way."
The Steelers' captain said the ASADA and WADA drug-testing processes are rigorous and threw his support behind them.
"I've been drug tested all around the world by numerous and different anti-doping agencies and never had any issue," he said.
"If you have drugs in your system you're going to get caught; that's the thing."
His comments come after Jack faced a four-year ban after testing positive for the prohibited substance Ligandrol on July 12 - a banned synthetic drug that aids muscle growth.
The 20-year-old swimmer raised the possibility that it found its way into her system via a contaminated supplement, but Batt said the lesson athletes must learn is to be overly cautious.
"As Australian athletes, we do courses on anti-doping and what supplements we can and can't take; it's a very vigorous process and ASADA does a fantastic job," he said.
"I've been taught to be careful what supplements you take.
"With everyday multivitamins you've got to be careful what you take because there could be traces of anything in any supplement."
Batt said athletes know drug testers will "rock up to your door unannounced or they'll rock up to your competitions".
"I want a drug-free sport and would hate to know if any of my competitors were into it. I think we need to trust the process," he said.
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