Exploring IV Therapy: Athlete Claims and Medical Care

IV therapy is a medical delivery route, while athlete recovery claims need their own evidence. This overview considers the history, costs, ingredients, sport rules and safety questions surrounding clinical and consumer use.

What does IV therapy do and what is claimed?

IV therapy is soaring in popularity as it claims many benefits for wellness and health.

Intravenous (IV) therapy is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications, and nutrients directly into a person’s vein.

The research regarding these treatments has shown both pros and cons to be considered.

IV therapy has commonly been used by athletes, who push their bodies hard daily hoping for improvement.

Intense activity can cause fluid and electrolyte losses, but this alone does not establish a need for IV therapy.

Most athletes can rehydrate orally; selected medical circumstances may require IV care.

It has also become quite popular for people seeking a healthier lifestyle.

But it can still include some side effects.

How do early infusion and transfusion histories differ?

The use of IV’s has evolved over time, but injecting medication into the veins started as early as the 1600’s.

Modern infusion devices and practices developed over several eras.

That development cannot be reduced to one century-old starting point.

Richard Lower’s seventeenth-century transfusion work was one milestone.

The cited histories distinguish Christopher Wren’s early infusion device from Lower’s transfusion instruments.

Modern needles, syringes and catheters developed later.

Over time,

IV therapy has evolved greatly with better scientific methods and trials according to IV Boost’s history article, published on December 20, 2016.

How did fluid replacement develop?

IV Boost’s account says, “The idea behind IV treatment can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when experiments were being done involving blood transfusions between humans and animals.”

The seventeenth-century transfusion milestones discussed here occurred after the Middle Ages, and transfusion history is not identical to fluid or nutrient infusion history.

Dr. William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, another pioneer physician, noticed during the cholera outbreak in the 19th century that water and saline were lost from the blood of cholera victims.

In 1832, Thomas Latta applied O’Shaughnessy’s advice using intravenous saline to address cholera-related fluid loss.

After 400 years of research, the development of IV’s has come a long way.

Today’s use of IV therapy stems from medical blood transfusions.

Clinical IV care can address selected fluid or nutrient needs, including situations where oral intake is insufficient.

Consumer claims about energy, recovery, aging, stamina, hangovers and jet lag need evidence for the specific use; treatment of malnutrition also requires clinical assessment.

The uses of intravenous therapy have evolved and increased to meet the rise of health and wellness concerns

How do athlete needs and sport rules fit?

After high intensity workouts, athletes are more likely to engage in IV therapy.

The body burns carbohydrates, fat, and protein quickly during intense physical exertion.

Although these nutrients are not difficult to replace, they must be consumed in the right quantity to convert food into energy.

The population for such therapy includes athletes of all levels.

From amateur to collegiate and professional athletes.

However, average people with other wellness concerns have been increasingly seeking such therapy.

The goals for them are to reduce the risk of cramps, minimize inflammation, and pain and to rehydrate efficiently.

USADA’s archived educational article states, “IV infusions and/or injections of more than 100 mL per 12-hour period are prohibited, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.”

WADA’s 2026 M2.2 rule applies both in and out of competition for covered athletes and identifies hospital treatments, surgical procedures and clinical diagnostic investigations as exceptions.

The 100 mL/12-hour threshold is a sport-rule criterion, not a recommended medical dose.

Another term used to describe IV therapy is “IV Drips.”

In some cases, IV therapy is prohibited because it can be used to enhance performance.

IV administration can change plasma volume, mask prohibited-substance use or distort Athlete Biological Passport values.

It is not itself a rapid weight-loss method.

Events such as the Olympics may have separate needle-use policies addressing athlete health, medical practice and doping. Athletes need the rules for their actual event, rather than assuming every league uses the same policy.

A quoted 20–60-minute visit is not a universal infusion-time rule. Timing, suitability and qualified administration depend on the product and clinical circumstances.

What draws people to IV treatments?

So, why not simply rest and eat properly?

It’s very common for people to lean towards something that will make them feel better quickly.

After performing, endurance athletes want an energy boost to recover more quickly, or to perform better.

IV therapy prices vary by provider and service.

The quoted $100–$200 range is not a verified current market average.

Celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber have also participated in IV therapy.

Being in the public spotlight may influence other people who follow them to try similar things.

Types of IV therapy include IV fluids, B-complex vitamins, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Magnesium, and others.

For athletes to stay competitive, they must find innovative ways to remain at the highest performance.

What do ingredient roles actually establish?

Vitamin C, glutathione and zinc appear in marketed IV products, but their biological roles do not establish that a wellness infusion boosts energy, speeds recovery or reduces inflammation in a well-nourished athlete.

Because of their physical conditioning, athletes are typically able to recover more quickly.

The body cannot function properly if it is not properly hydrated.

The IV route does not make one liter equivalent in volume to a gallon.

Hydration effects also depend on fluid composition and the person’s clinical condition.

B vitamins support metabolism, but they are not fuels burned to supply calories.

When B12 status is adequate, extra B12 has not been shown to improve athletic energy or endurance.

High doses of Vitamin C can be found in some IV bags.

Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis; it is not a structural building block of collagen.

This role does not by itself establish that high-dose IV vitamin C speeds recovery from strenuous activity.

What risks and evidence questions remain?

There are some concerns that athletes using IV may put themselves at unnecessary risk.

According to the United States Anti- Doping Agency, “Yes, there are potential risks and complications that come with receiving an IV, including infection, cellulitis, inflammation of the wall of a vein with associated thrombosis, bleeding, hematoma/arterial puncture, unintended leakage of solution into the surrounding tissue, air embolism, and needle stick to the provider. Inappropriate levels of electrolytes given by IV can also have serious cardiac, muscular, and nervous system effects, even resulting in death.”

The 2022 British Journal of Sports Medicine editorial advocates food-first and reduced needle use; it is not a survey proving what most non-athletes believe.

Athletes who participate in IV therapy after every intense workout could experience adverse long-term effects on their bodies.

Too much of certain supplements contained in the IV bags can lead to some undesired consequences.

According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, “Given that the long-term effects of supratherapeutic doses of

B vitamins and other nutrients are unknown in athletes, it does not appear to be worth the risk, especially given the lack of evidence-based benefits.”

Finally, there have been concerns raised for the IV Therapy industry that mainly involve addressing the challenges of infection, and tubing misconnections.

What can safer systems and research clarify?

The use of more advanced technology is expected to enhance the acceptance and demand for IV therapy.

It is important to help clients feel more comfortable.

Clear labels and premixed packaging can be parts of safer systems, but they do not by themselves eliminate dosing errors, contamination or tubing misconnections.

The future for IV therapy is very bright considering how its popularity continues to increase.

For otherwise healthy athletes, the cited editorial describes sparse evidence that does not support routine IV nutrition for faster recovery or performance.

Selected clinical indications are a separate question.

But athletes should understand there may be unforeseen health complications with long-term continuous use.

The research continues as the demand increases.

References

The past, present, and future of IV therapy. RxToolKit. (2023, March 29). https://rxtoolkit.com/the-past-present-and-future-of-iv-therapy/

The history of IV therapy. ivWatch. (2021, December 17). https://www.ivwatch.com/2020/11/10/the-history-of-iv-therapy/

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). (n.d.; archived educational article). Is it prohibited for athletes to use IV infusions for rehydration and recovery?. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/is-it-prohibited-or-dangerous-for-athletes-using-iv-infusions-for-re-hydration-and-recovery/

The history & development of intravenous therapy – IV boost UK. IVBoost. (2016, December 20). https://ivboost.uk/history-development-intravenous-therapy/

IV nutrition risks becoming the norm for athletes, despite no evidence it works. BMJ. (n.d.). https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/iv-nutrition-risks-becoming-the-norm-for-athletes-despite-no-evidence-it-works/

IV therapy and its benefits for athletes. HydraMed. (n.d.-a). https://hydramed.com/blog/iv-therapy-and-its-benefits-for-athletes

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. IV Infusions: Explanatory Note. https://www.usada.org/athlete-advisory/iv-infusions-explanatory-note/

World Anti-Doping Agency. (2026). Prohibited List, M2.2. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf

Lewis, N., Hodgson, A., Khanbhai, T., Sygo, J., Mazur, J., Smith, C., Catterson, P., & Pedlar, C. (2022). Rise of intravenous nutrition products among professional team sport athletes: reasons to be concerned? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56(21), 1204–1205. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105883

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12: Health Professional Fact Sheet. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C: Health Professional Fact Sheet. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

Royal Society. Richard Lower, method of transfusing blood, manuscript CLP/12i/7, read 26 September 1666. https://catalogues.royalsociety.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?id=CLP%2F12i%2F7&src=CalmView.Catalog

“IV therapy has commonly been used by athletes, who push their bodies hard daily hoping for improvement.”

“IV therapy prices vary by provider and service.”

“B vitamins support metabolism, but they are not fuels burned to supply calories.”