The Implications of Actovegin® in Sport: A Brief Review

Actovegin® (or Solcoseryl) is a deproteinized hemoderivative of calf’s blood, which contains more than 200 bioactive constituents. Screening and identification of biologically active molecule(s) is challenging due to the complexity of many constituents that may influence various cellular biochemical pathways and are found naturally in the body. Actovegin® comes in different forms including cream, gel, ointment, tablets, and injectable solution. Currently, according to section M2, Chemical and Physical Manipulation of the World Anti-Doping Code, intravenous injections of Actovegin® exceeding 100 ml is prohibited and further serial injections must be at least 12 hours apart. Although the performance-enhancing effects of Actovegin® are still anecdotal, the use of this drug has undoubtedly been widespread in sports for more than two decades. Existing findings provide promising results regarding the effect of Actovegin® in treating muscle injuries at the injected site. Further research exploring other forms of Actovegin ® (tablets, gel, cream) is encouraged to better understand the potential benefits of Actovegin® in applied sports settings.