Survey Finds 38% of Elite Canadian Athletes Have Used CBD, Mostly for Sleep and Pain
38% of surveyed elite Canadian athletes reported using CBD, primarily for sleep and pain relief, though anti-doping concerns remain the top barrier to use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 80 elite Canadian athletes, 38% had used CBD. Users overwhelmingly agreed it was safe (96%) and reported benefits for sleep (93%), relaxation (90%), and training pain (77%). The biggest deterrent to use was concern about anti-doping violations (28%).
Key Numbers
38% had used CBD; 96% of users agreed it was safe; 93% reported improved sleep; 90% reported improved relaxation; 77% reported reduced training pain; 28% cited anti-doping concerns as the top barrier.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional anonymous online survey of elite-level Canadian athletes conducted between October 2021 and June 2023. 80 athletes completed the survey.
Why This Research Matters
Elite athletes increasingly turn to CBD for recovery and sleep, but the gap between perceived benefits and rigorous evidence remains wide. Anti-doping concerns create a unique barrier in this population that does not apply to recreational users.
The Bigger Picture
While the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its prohibited list, other cannabinoids remain banned. CBD products can contain trace amounts of prohibited cannabinoids, creating a real risk for athletes who face strict liability for positive tests.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample of 80 athletes limits generalizability. Self-reported perceived benefits without objective outcome measures. Selection bias likely, as athletes interested in CBD may have been more likely to participate.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do the self-reported sleep and recovery benefits of CBD in athletes hold up under controlled testing?
- ?How often do commercially available CBD products contain enough THC to trigger a positive anti-doping test?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 38% of elite athletes surveyed had used CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional survey with self-reported outcomes and no control group.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication with data collected 2021-2023
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol use among elite-level Canadian athletes: the pursuit of improved sleep, pain relief, and enhanced recovery.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in nutrition, 12, 1711773 (2025)
- Authors:
- Karam, Dimitri, Sesbreno, Erik, Drager, Kelly, Boegman, Susan, Duncan, Lindsay R, Jensen, Dennis, Churchward-Venne, Tyler A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06793
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is CBD use among elite athletes?
In this Canadian survey, 38% of 80 elite athletes reported having used CBD, though only 30% of those users were currently active users at the time of the survey.
Why do some athletes avoid CBD?
The top reported barrier was concern about anti-doping rule violations (28%). While CBD itself is not banned by WADA, commercial CBD products may contain trace amounts of prohibited cannabinoids that could trigger a positive test.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06793APA
Karam, Dimitri; Sesbreno, Erik; Drager, Kelly; Boegman, Susan; Duncan, Lindsay R; Jensen, Dennis; Churchward-Venne, Tyler A. (2025). Cannabidiol use among elite-level Canadian athletes: the pursuit of improved sleep, pain relief, and enhanced recovery.. Frontiers in nutrition, 12, 1711773. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1711773
MLA
Karam, Dimitri, et al. "Cannabidiol use among elite-level Canadian athletes: the pursuit of improved sleep, pain relief, and enhanced recovery.." Frontiers in nutrition, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1711773
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol use among elite-level Canadian athletes: the pur..." RTHC-06793. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/karam-2025-cannabidiol-use-among-elitelevel
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.