USA Triathlon has become the first NGB of an American sport to "make a sponsorship deal with a company that sells products containing cannabidiol, or CBD," according to Matthew Futterman of the N.Y. TIMES. Financial terms of the four-year deal between USAT and Colorado-based Pure Spectrum "were not disclosed." With the partnership, Pure Spectrum will help the NGB "support growth of the sport while trying to keep fees for races and other costs associated with the triathlon at a reasonable level." USAT CEO Rocky Harris said that the movement to embrace CBD among participants in the sport "led his organization on a six-month endeavor to determine the actual risks and benefits of CBD" and whether USAT "could responsibly pursue making money through a sponsorship deal with a CBD company." USAT is "not the only sports organization that has a relationship with a CBD company," as the UFC and CrossFit also have deals in place. However, the risk for a NGB of an Olympic sport is "higher because those organizations have to abide by all WADA regulations and submit to the most intense drug testing protocols." During the past year, a "number of notable personalities from sports have established relationships with CBD companies or acknowledged experimenting with the products." They include Warriors coach Steve Kerr, tennis player John Isner, Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier Bode Miller and golfer Bubba Watson (N.Y. TIMES, 10/21).
FOR ONE, FOR ALL: Former NFLer Rob Gronkowski said he is in "much better shape" now than during his playing days after partnering with Toronto-based Abacus Health Products, which markets cannabis-based products using CBD, which does not include marijuana's psychoactive ingredient, THC. He said that it is a "much healthier option for chronic pain than prescription drugs," which many allege are overused around the league. Gronkowski said of CBD products, "It’s hands down a product all NFL players should be able to use." He added, "I just truly believe that all athletes should be able to use it and not just all athletes but anyone out there in the world should be able to use it" ("Nightly News," NBC, 10/20).
