Euro 2016: England star Jamie Vardy spotted carrying nicotine and energy drink both on drugs watchlist
Leicester striker pictured with Red Bull and pouches ahead of Group B clash with Wales in Lens on Thursday
JAMIE VARDY was today spotted at England training carrying controversial nicotine pouches and an energy drink – with are both on the world anti-doping watchlist.
Vardy is gearing up for England’s crucial Euro 2016 clash with Wales and is desperate to force his way into Roy Hodgson’s side for Thursday’s match.
And the Leicester star was spotted sporting a cocktail of stimulants as he walked out to training at the Three Lions HQ in Chantilly today.
Vardy was carrying a can of controversial energy drink Red Bull in one hand and a tin of nicotine pouches in the other as he prepared for Tuesday’s session.
Use of either do not represent a doping offence, but both are on the World Anti-Doping Agency monitoring list as stimulants that could be considered for the banned list when used in competition.
Vardy has not broken any rules, with the FA aware that the striker – who is understood to be a former smoker – uses both stimulants as part of his dietary regime.
Michele Verokken, the former head of UK anti-dpoing, says WADA have been monitoring the use of nicotine pouches for the past four years.
Verokken said: “The key question here for the anti-doping authorities is establishing, scientifically, if stimulants like nicotine are performance enhancing.
“It has been on the monitored list since 2012 and would only be an issue when used in competition.
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“It would act as a stimulant by increasing the heart rate. But as things stand it is not a doping offence.”
Nicotine pouches are most effective when they are pressed against the gum, and the suggests Vardy may even have been using them in games for Leicester last season, when the striker scored 24 league goals.
There are suggestions the 29-year-old used the pouches as part of his attempts to give up smoking.
Red Bull is a high-caffeine drink, though use of the drink has been criticised by health campaigners over long term damage it can do to the body.
The fact both are on the WADA watchlist suggests sporting officials are becoming concerned over the effect they have.
In 2012, the body published the findings of a year-long study carried out in Lausaane that concluded nicotine increased ‘vigilance and cognitive function’ as well as reducing body weight and stress levels.
Vardy is pushing for a place in Hodgson’s side to face Wales with the England boss considering leaving Harry Kane out of his team in Lens.
The striker is currently taking time to decide whether to commit his future to Leicester or join Arsenal who have activated the £20million release clause in his Foxes contract.
