EXCLUSIVE, by KELVIN HEALEY
31jul05
AFL players are using a controversial "wonder drink" that supposedly boosts endurance.
Western Bulldogs players are taking part in a clinical trial of the herbal elixir Lact-Away – dubbed "jump juice" by some players.
The club is one of four AFL teams experimenting with the expensive anti-inflammatory supplement which has been attributed to a winning streak by NRL side Manly Sea Eagles.
Lact-Away is made from an extract of French maritime pine tree bark and has claimed properties of stopping muscle fatigue and reducing lactic acid build-up.
The Bulldogs, Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Sydney have all used the herbal remedy, which costs about $300 a litre, while Collingwood and Richmond have had discussions with the product's distributors.
The Bulldogs are conducting the testing in conjunction with Victoria University.
A club spokeswoman said: "It is a clinical trial which involves treadmill and blood testing and gas analysis.
"We hope to get the results in late September and are waiting on the outcome of the results before we make a decision on whether we will invest in it further."
Vic Davidson, who is part of a Sydney-based partnership which holds exclusive distribution rights for the product, said the trial involved 40 players.
Former Sydney Swans player Troy Luff said he began using Lact-Away in 2000, when the distributors first bought rights to the herbal drink. Luff, 35, who now plays football in the Sydney metropolitan league, said it had cut his game recovery time from three days to one.
He said Brownlow medallists Jason Akermanis and Michael Voss were both enthusiastic users.
The Australian Sports Drug Agency website confirms Lact-Away has been cleared of banned substances by a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.
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