Athletes can gain an advantage with caffeine while delivering performance at competitive events, as per scientists at the University of Birmingham. This fact was revealed during a study conducted by researchers at University of Birmingham’s school of sport and exercise sciences.

During the study, it was found out that caffeine into sports drinks can increase the rate of absorption in context to carbohydrates by as much as 26 percent, giving an advantage to professional athletes, somewhat like steroids.

From News-Medical.Net:

Scientists at the University of Birmingham say that caffeine can help athletes by boosting the body’s absorption of carbohydrates.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the university’s school of sport and exercise sciences, it was found that by introducing caffeine into sports drinks it increased the absorption rate of carbohydrates by 26 percent.

A group of eight cyclists took part in three two-hour exercise sessions, and for each of the three trials, the cyclists took one of three different sports drinks, glucose, glucose mixed with caffeine, and water.

The researchers found that caffeine increased the amount of carbohydrates absorbed from the sports drink.

If an individual is able to gain energy from his or her drinks then there is a suggested hint that he or she is using less energy from the body stores, according to Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, the director of the University’s Human Performance Laboratory.

Jeukendrup also said that while caffeine cannot be termed as a performance-enhancing substance like steroids, it does affect the level of carbohydrates in the body of an athlete.

For informational purposes, it is good to note that Caffeine was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency list of banned substances, way back in January 2004.

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