Mamadou Sakho's failed drugs test should warn players there is no "magic answer" to solving weight issues, say the British Dietetic Association.
UEFA is currently investigating a possible anti-doping violation by Liverpool defender Sakho, who failed a drugs test after the club's Europa League second-leg tie at Manchester United last month.
It is understood the failed test is associated with a fat-burning supplement and Sakho, who was pulled out of Saturday's game against Newcastle but has not been suspended either by Liverpool or UEFA, now faces an anxious wait to see whether he will receive a playing ban.
The France international is likely to ask for his B sample to be tested, with the deadline for that request set for Tuesday.
And the BDA believes the Sakho case raises the dangers of supplement use and the need for football clubs to educate their players on this issue.
"The culture has moved away from food and towards supplements and using potions and lotions," BDA spokesperson Aisling Pigott told Press Association Sport.
"But athletes have to be extremely careful because unless those supplements are legal there is a big risk that they could be contaminated.
"I see a lot of under-18 footballers today talking about supplements, but you can not afford to go down the illegal route.
"Fat-burning supplements are difficult to monitor and if there was anything reliable to burn fat, it would be introduced across the board in the health service because of the (obesity) crisis we have.
"People are looking for the magic answer all the time, but it does not exist."
It is understood that Sakho might have failed a drugs test as some fat-burners consist of mild-to-moderate stimulant-type drugs such as ephedrine.
Those drugs could enhance performance by increasing metabolism and providing extra energy, but the BDA say illegal supplements can also have the opposite effect.
"You can have a bunch of placebo ingredients cooked up, but these are generally high in caffeine and can have a negative effect on performance," said Pigott.
"They can affect sleep and make an individual anxious.
"They are not legal and safe, and I would be surprised to hear of any elite athlete taking these supplements.
"It's also vital that any organisation knows the risk of supplements, and football clubs must spend more time on education and have a broader level of knowledge.
"They must make it clear that it's not a good idea for a player to go into a shop and buy a fat-burning supplement, because it just doesn't work."
Source: PA
