CCSP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CCSP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which organization maintains the Prohibited List that governs banned substances for Olympic and elite athletes under the WADA Code? → World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
2. Which controlled substance schedule (DEA) includes testosterone and most anabolic-androgenic steroids in the United States? → Schedule III
3. Which of the following is a primary principle of hydration for an athlete competing in a 90-minute outdoor event in warm weather? → Aim to lose no more than 2% of pre-exercise body weight.
4. Why is hydration important for athletic performance? → Regulates temperature and muscle function
5. What is the primary goal of rehabilitation after a sports injury? → To restore optimal function and mobility
6. Why is meal timing important for athletic performance and recovery? → It supports energy levels and recovery
7. Which type of exercise is most appropriate in the early phase of rehabilitation? → Isometric
8. A CCSP is asked about the role of sodium bicarbonate as an ergogenic aid. Which type of athletic event would most benefit from bicarbonate loading? → High-intensity events lasting 1–7 minutes (e.g., 800 m run)
9. Little Leaguer's shoulder is a stress injury affecting which structure in youth baseball pitchers? → Proximal humeral physis
10. Which of the following is a potential side effect of excessive protein supplementation? → Kidney strain or damage
11. Which analgesic mechanism do opioids use, and why are they regulated in sport? → Mu-opioid receptor agonism masking pain and impairing judgment
12. What macronutrient is primarily used by the body for energy during high-intensity exercise? → Carbohydrates
13. Athlete burnout is characterized by three core dimensions according to Raedeke's model. Which of the following correctly lists all three? → Emotional/physical exhaustion, sport devaluation, and reduced sense of accomplishment
14. In periodization, a mesocycle typically refers to: → A training block of 3–6 weeks focused on developing specific physiological qualities
15. The gold-standard method for body composition assessment in clinical sports medicine is: → Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) due to its precise three-compartment analysis
16. Which beta-2 agonist requires a TUE for inhaled use in competition according to WADA regulations? → Terbutaline without a TUE
17. Which special test is commonly used to evaluate a suspected rotator cuff tear? → Drop Arm test
18. During intense exercise approaching VO2 max, which fuel substrate provides the greatest contribution to muscle energy? → Muscle glycogen via anaerobic glycolysis
19. Which class of drugs is banned primarily because they mask the excretion of other prohibited substances in urine? → Diuretics
20. Which exercise is best suited for restoring range of motion (ROM)? → Dynamic stretching
21. Which technique involves systematically tensing and then releasing muscle groups to reduce somatic anxiety and physiological arousal before competition? → Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)
22. EPO (erythropoietin) is banned in sport primarily because it increases which of the following? → Red blood cell production and oxygen-carrying capacity
23. The primary mechanism by which aerobic endurance training improves VO2 max is: → Increasing stroke volume and therefore maximal cardiac output
24. Which NSAID is available over the counter and commonly used by athletes for pain management, requiring no anti-doping concern? → Ibuprofen
25. A collegiate athlete asks about using pseudoephedrine for nasal congestion before a competition. What should the CCSP advise? → It is permitted by WADA but may be banned by the NCAA above certain urinary thresholds
26. Which analgesic commonly used in sports medicine acts by inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes and carries the greatest risk of GI bleeding with chronic use? → Non-selective NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen)
27. A player tests positive for a prohibited substance claiming contamination from a supplement. The strict liability principle means: → The athlete is responsible regardless of intent or knowledge
28. The Female Athlete Triad consists of which three interrelated conditions? → Low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density
29. Which nutritional deficiency is most commonly associated with stress fractures in adolescent female distance runners? → Calcium and vitamin D deficiency
30. Which organization maintains the Prohibited List that CCSP practitioners must know when advising competitive athletes? → World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)