Salbutamol use by asthma sufferers significantly improves sports performance
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
0 sources for · 2 against
Controlled scientific studies investigating the administration of inhaled salbutamol to athletes and individuals with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction found no significant ergogenic improvements in sports performance metrics such as sprint ability, power output, or time trials.
Objectives: Investigate the ergogenic effect of inhaling up to 1600 μg of salbutamol on intermittent running performance in pre-fatigued soccer players.
Methods: In a single blind randomised repeated measures design seven male and six female soccer players volunteered to participant. All participants were regularly playing competitive soccer and had no history of asthma. Following familiarisation sessions participants visited the exercise physiology laboratory on three occasions to complete an intermittent running protocol followed by twelve 17.5 m sprints. Prior to each trial participants inhaled either: placebo, 800 μg inhaled salbutamol (SAL800) or 1600 μg inhaled salbutamol (SAL1600). Following completion of the sprints a sample from the first urine passed was analysed for salbutamol concentration. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the mean sprint time, maximal sprint power, peak blood lactate post sprints and post sprint salbutamol urine concentration between conditions.
Results: Mean sprint time, maximum power, maximum velocity, peak HR and peak blood lactate during the 17.5 m sprints were not significantly different between treatments in soccer players. There was no significant difference between male and female players in urine drug concentration following SAL800 (mean + SD; 201.47 + 294.47 ng.ml-1 vs. 180.2 + 102.15 ng.ml-1) or SAL1600 (739.24 + 549.21 ng.ml-1 vs. 879.58 + 633.14 ng.ml-1). Three players urine drug concentrations were above the WADA decision limit set at 1200 ng.ml-1.
Conclusions: Inhaling up to 1600 μg inhaled salbutamol did not significantly improve repeated sprint performance. However, inhalation of 1600 μg may result in a urine concentration above the current WADA upper limit and decision limit leading to a positive test. Athletes should ensure they use inhaled salbutamol at therapeutic doses to avoid the risk of breaching the WADA decision limit.
β2-agonists are on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances; however, athletes are allowed to treat symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction with a maximal daily dose of 1600 μg of salbutamol when taken by inhalation. This study aimed to investigate whether 1600 μg of salbutamol leads to enhanced time trial performance in trained, competitive male cyclists with and without exercise-induced bronchoconstriction on the basis of inhaled dose per kilogram of body weight. In a randomized crossover design, 20 trained male cyclists (eight with positive eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea challenge (EVH+) and 12 with negative EVH challenge (EVH-) performed two simulated 10-km time trials on a cycle ergometer 30 min after the inhalation of either 1600 μg of salbutamol or placebo. Lung function, assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), was measured immediately before and 15 min after inhalation. The main performance outcome was mean power output. After the inhalation of salbutamol, FEV1 was significantly increased by 6.4% (4.9%) versus 1.0% (4.4%) with placebo (P < 0.001). Despite this increase in FEV1, mean power output during the salbutamol time trial was not increased regardless of relative dose per kilogram of body weight and asthma status. Mean heart rate (P = 0.01), respiratory rate (P = 0.01), minute ventilation (P = 0.03) and perceived leg discomfort (P = 0.03) were significantly increased in the salbutamol condition. The inhalation of 1600 μg salbutamol improved FEV1 regardless of EVH status but did not improve 10-km time trial performance in trained competitive male cyclists regardless of relative dose per kilogram of body weight or EVH status. Significant increases in heart rate and minute ventilation occurred secondary to stimulation of the adrenergic nervous system.
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