The Maltese Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission held a one-day seminar on sports nutrition and supplement use, aimed at helping athletes, coaches and support staff make informed decisions.

Supported by Olympic Solidarity, the event took place at Salini Resort in St Paul’s Bay on Saturday, 3 October.

The seminar addressed the widespread use of supplements among athletes at all levels, examining their potential benefits alongside risks such as contamination with prohibited substances, mislabelling and interactions with medication.

Participants were also reminded of the anti-doping principle of strict liability, under which athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance found in their system, regardless of its source.

MOC president Julian Pace Bonello and Dr Lucienne Attard, an MOC Executive Board member and chair of its Medical Commission, delivered the opening addresses.

The programme was divided into three sessions. The first explored the fundamentals of sports nutrition, the importance of a “food first” approach and supplements with evidence of performance benefits.

The second examined the evidence and myths surrounding creatine, including its potential role in brain health. The final session focused on the risks associated with supplement use and included a practical exercise allowing athletes to check their own products.

A panel discussion and question-and-answer session concluded the programme.

Dr Attard led the seminar alongside Professor Ron Maughan, an internationally recognised sports nutrition expert and Honorary Professor at the University of St Andrews’ School of Medicine. Maughan also directs education programmes on behalf of the International Olympic Committee’s Medical and Scientific Commission.

They were joined by Fleur Bugeja, a state-registered nutritionist with more than 15 years’ experience. Bugeja works with the Ministry for Health, has lectured at the University of Malta and is currently undertaking the IOC’s Diploma in Sports Nutrition.

Dr Attard said the seminar sought to provide practical guidance in an environment where athletes often feel pressure to seek a competitive advantage.

“Athletes are under constant pressure to find an edge, and supplements are often seen as an easy answer. The reality is that a well-planned diet does most of the work, and any supplement carries a responsibility,” she said.

“Through this seminar, supported by Olympic Solidarity, we wanted athletes and their support teams to understand what works, what does not, and how to protect both their health and their careers.”