A wild rumor linking Celsius energy drinks to false cocaine positives in drug tests has been swiftly knocked out by Major League Baseball. The league, along with its players’ union, says there’s no credible science tying the fitness-fueled beverage to dirty results.

It all started with a now-deleted X post from Emily Waldon, a sports journalist covering the Detroit Tigers’ High-A affiliate. Waldon claimed MLB “strongly discourages” Celsius due to an unnamed ingredient allegedly triggering false positives for cocaine. But her source? Dugout whispers, not official league statements.

MLB responded, clarifying that it only recommends drinks that are NSF Certified for Sport, a list that includes Red Bull and C4, but not Celsius. Still, the league emphasized it isn’t aware of any ingredient in Celsius that could cause a cocaine flag on drug tests.

Celsius, for its part, says the product is “completely safe” and popular among athletes and students alike. Yet the company remains off MLB’s official recommendation list, a move that’s more about risk mitigation than condemnation.

Meanwhile, the NCAA plays a tougher game. It bans guarana, a caffeine-loaded plant found in several energy drinks including Celsius, for its stimulant properties. While Celsius itself isn’t banned, caffeine limits do apply to student-athlete drug screens.

Beyond the hype, concerns about energy drinks in sports are nothing new. USA Cycling and other athletic organizations have long warned about the risks of stimulants in competitive settings. The American Academy of Pediatrics goes further, stating there’s no safe caffeine level for youth.

And the dangers aren’t just theoretical. In 2014, a high school football player died after downing two energy drinks pre-practice. A 2017 study in Pediatric Emergency Care reported that 40% of teens who consumed these beverages suffered adverse effects, including seizures and heart palpitations.

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