Tart cherry and CBD for sports recovery

Tart cherry has been studied for several years for its richness in anthocyanins, a family of antioxidant polyphenols, and its natural melatonin content. A few small clinical trials have reported a subjective benefit for the perception of fatigue after exercise and for sleep quality.

That literature remains preliminary: small cohorts, variable methodologies, no definitive meta-analysis. No health claim has been validated by the EFSA for tart cherry to date. It is therefore consumed within a nutritional logic, with no therapeutic effect attributable to it.

Studies of CBD in a sporting context deal mainly with the perception of sleep quality, managing pre-competition stress, and topical applications within massage rituals. Here too the literature remains exploratory and no health claim is validated in France or in Europe.

On the anti-doping side, the AFLD, following WADA, removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances on 1 January 2018; THC, by contrast, remains prohibited in competition. To go further on checking a product's composition, our guide to reading a certificate of analysis sets out the points to verify.

European regulation 2015/2283 classifies ingested CBD as a "novel food", an ingredient requiring prior authorisation before any sale. On 9 February 2026 the EFSA published an extremely low provisionally safe daily dose: 0.0275 mg per kg of body weight per day, roughly 2 mg a day for a 70 kg adult, calculated with an uncertainty factor of 400.

Since 15 May 2026 the DGAL has applied that framework strictly: CBD food products without a validated dossier, tart cherry gummies among them, are being withdrawn from the French market. Flowers, resins, cosmetics and e-liquids are not affected. Separately, in a press release of 19 June 2025 the ANSES proposed classifying CBD as presumed toxic to reproduction, which reinforces the general position of caution towards ingested CBD products.

Several routes remain available and compliant with the French framework. Pure tart cherry, as unsweetened juice or dried fruit, remains an ordinary food outside the Novel Food perimeter. CBD cosmetics for post-exercise massage remain authorised under European cosmetics regulation 1223/2009. Finally, the fundamentals set out by the INSEP remain the most soundly established: good sleep, suitable nutrition, hydration and gentle mobility work the day after an intense session.

CBD is not a medicine. In the event of persistent muscle pain or sleep disturbance, consult a healthcare professional. Not advised for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for minors.

Why are tart cherry and CBD gummies being withdrawn from the market?

Because they fall under the Novel Food regime of regulation 2015/2283. Since 15 May 2026 the DGAL has been withdrawing CBD food products that lack valid European authorisation, following the EFSA's publication of a very low provisional daily dose.

Can I carry on consuming tart cherry?

Yes, as unsweetened juice or as dried or fresh cherries. The cherry is an ordinary food that does not come under the Novel Food perimeter, unlike gummies combined with CBD.

Does ingested CBD pose a problem for an athlete in competition?

Yes, on two counts: ingested products may contain traces of THC, which is prohibited in competition by WADA, and since 15 May 2026 these formats have been restricted in France. For competition, favour topical cosmetics based on THC-free isolate.

What should I do with CBD gummies bought before May 2026?

Products bought before that date, in compliance with the earlier framework, may be kept for personal use. Brands, however, have not been able to place them back on sale since the Novel Food framework came into force.