The organisation representing tertiary sport institutes says most New Zealand athletes are naive about the risks involved with sports supplements.
Professor Doug Booth of the Tertiary Council for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise said reports of widespread doping in professional sport in Australia show athletes need to be more critical of the supplements they're taking.
Professor Booth said athletes who buy supplements over the internet or through word-of-mouth are more vulnerable to doping accusations as the international list of banned substances continues to grow.
He said more education and consultation between athletes and sports drug experts are needed to avoid future doping allegations.
