On October 24, 2026, the National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD) hosted the fourth seminar of the project "Capacity Building for Learning, Education, and Awareness on Nutrition within Anti-Doping Mechanisms (CLEAN Nutrition)." The project is funded by the UNESCO Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport and implemented by ANAD Moldova.
This time, 23 athletes from the National Sports Federation of Baseball and Softball participated in the training session. Baseball and softball are sports where focus, reaction speed, and sustained energy matter during long matches, often played in high temperatures. For this reason, energy drinks and pre-workout supplements are frequently used by athletes. However, these very products are among those most at risk of containing prohibited stimulants not listed on the label.
The seminar began with an introduction to the CLEAN Nutrition project and the role nutrition plays in the fight against doping. The discussion then turned to the safe use of supplements. Athletes learned how supplements can become contaminated, how to consult the Prohibited List, how to read labels, and what guarantees third-party certifications provide. Special attention was paid to stimulants and energy products. Participants also learned about Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE), which are required when an athlete undergoes treatment with medications containing prohibited substances. The acquired knowledge was immediately applied in a practical exercise.
Next, participants addressed nutrition for clean performance, emphasizing the "food first" principle, maintaining energy and focus throughout the match, as well as hydration and recovery. The program also included a session dedicated to anti-doping rules and responsibilities. The provisions of the WADA Code, athletes' rights, the UNESCO Convention, and the doping control process were explained.
The organizers reminded participants that, based on the principle of strict liability, athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance found in their bodies, including when it originates from a contaminated supplement or energy drink. The message for baseball and softball players was clear: energy and focus are built through balanced nutrition, rest, and hydration—not through products with uncertain ingredients.
The sessions were led by Dr. Artiom Jucov, Director of ANAD Moldova; Dr. Tatiana Timercan, National Trainer; Lilia Talmațchi, Head of the Anti-Doping Education Department; Eugen Lupușor and Arian Movileanu, Doping Control Officers (DCO) and specialists at ANAD Moldova; and Dr. Marianna Savva, PhD in Educational Sciences, educational activity facilitator, and communication expert.
Following the seminars dedicated to tennis and padel, weightlifting, and taekwondo, the meeting with baseball and softball players continues the series of CLEAN Nutrition educational activities. Through this series, the project aims to strengthen the Moldovan sports community's knowledge regarding safe nutrition and doping prevention.
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