DURAND – Performance-enhancing, over-the-counter dietary supplements cost five members of Durand’s 400-meter relay team an appearance at Saturday’s Division 3 state finals at Comstock Park May 31.

After a thorough investigation, Durand athletic director Chris Deines discovered that several athletes were consuming the pre-workout supplement drink C4 Extreme before competitions. Durand wouldn't confirm how many of the five members were using the product.

C4 Extreme is an over-the-counter supplement that can be purchased at local health stores that contains the substance synephrine, which is on the NCAA’s list of banned products.

[ALSO READ:Durand track athletes' trouble with supplement use brings statewide issue to light]

Durand school officials found out that athletes were performing with enhancers after Durand won the Genesee Area Conference Red league track meet on Tuesday, May 20. Durand has asked that the 26 points accumulated by the athletes using performance enhancers be disqualified and recalculated in the final standings of the league meet.

Under the advice of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Durand also immediately suspended its athletic eligibility but nobody had any classroom infractions because they were only punished for cheating in sports.

“It’s an unfortunate situation for all of those who were involved and this has been an educational experience, but the health and safety of our athletes is a concern,” Deines said. “The substance that was in the pre-workout drink was not a safe substance. Some of them involved were seniors and some were underclassmen.”

Durand’s head boys and girls track coaches Bruce Spaulding and Joseph Whitman were both unaware that this performance enhancer was being used until the kids confirmed it during the school's investigation.

An assistant coach suspected of encouraging use of the supplement resigned when the investigation started, Spaulding said.

“This is very hard for me to deal with, because my boys have worked so hard to get where they are and I don’t believe it’s something that they would have taken without being influenced by another source,” Spaulding said. “Our families are devastated right now. I’ve coached these boys since seventh grade and this is a hard pill for me to swallow, too.”

Durand Area Schools Superintendent Cindy Weber couldn’t be reached for comment but all of the GAC athletic directors were immediately notified after the investigation via email.

Deines encouraged the other ADs to use this as a “teachable moment” for their programs.

“Throughout the process, the kids have been very honest and we’re looking to grow from this and move forward,” Spaulding said. “After talking with other people, I don’t think this is just a problem at Durand schools. I believe it's other schools that have the same issues, but just aren’t aware of it.”