Reason , I suggested searching for a supplement, is to know the real purpose behind each and every supplement.. If I am going to be adding some foreign substance to my body, I would definitely want to know everything about that substance along with the potential benefits and side effects.. I am presuming the sports federation website lists just those substances that are prohibited.. But as sandeep pointed out there are going to be websites that are perfectly objective, while others are biased.. And it finally comes down to us as a individual to do what we believe to be right..I prefer not to go to google and search extensively as it may even confuse you. Just take one official organization and go throught the list and don't use them.
You can look at this site, regarding creatine.. Again not sure of the qualifications of the author..
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/creatine.html
Side effects and adverse reactions to creatine supplementation
Short term (less than 2 weeks) exercise studies have not reported any adverse events associated with creatine supplementation. There have been no long term studies done to evaluate the safety of prolonged administration. This is unfortunate because increasingly more and more athletes are taking creatine supplements for longer periods. Anecdotal reports have begun to emerge and have noted increased muscle cramping (especially during exercise in the heat), nausea and other gastrointestinal disturbances, elevated liver transaminases, and acute renal injury.
Creatine supplementation, in the dosages commonly used, results in urinary concentrations that are 90 times greater than normal. The long term effects of this have not been investigated, but there is possibility for a variety of nephrotoxic, i.e., kidney damaging, events. There is potential for direct toxicity on renal tubules where urine is formed, and for acceleration of kidney stone formation. Recently, a baseball player for the Houston Astros was determined to have suffered from dehydration, kidney stones, and transient kidney damage as the result of creatine supplementation. Additionally, the deaths of 3 collegiate wrestlers this past year are being investigated to determine what role creatine supplementation may have played.
Impurities are present in virtually every manufactured product, and in some cases, even though the product may be considered harmless, the impurity is not. Such was the case in the late 1980's when an epidemic of cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, including over 30 deaths, were blamed on a contaminant present in L-tryptophan (9), an amino acid supplement widely taken as a sleep aid. Creatine, and other such supplements, are not regulated by the FDA. No published investigation has been conducted on creatine to determine what impurities might be present in creatine supplements, and what their long term effect might be.
The bottom line is that no one can confidently state that prolonged creatine supplementation is safe, and its use would best be avoided until more data can be compiled. Prolonged administration is, in essence, an uncontrolled toxicity study and one which might yield harmful results. Is it worth the risk? Remember, it's your body!
Triple any sportsman in today's world is in a catch 22 situation!!! If you don't take supplements, it is increasingly difficult to compete in this world... If you do take them, there is always a risk that it may not be good for your body. There have been even studies that suggest you shouldn't take beyond a recommended dosage of 'Soy' Protein daily!!! I guess one has to balance the good and bad and decide whether its good for one..i think this is slightly hypocritical on the part of the authorities as every elite and non elite athelete today take supplements of protein, creatine etc. to be in top class condition as sports has become a lot more aggressive and rigourous as compared to previous era's.
This is one another reason, you may really want to think before taking the supplements.My worry about people like Triple_N is that tsome trainers in gyms may sell him legal stuff that has been contaminated with illegal substances. I do not trust the authenticity of regular medicines that can be purchased at a pharmacy in India.
