mmur-@teleport.com
This is an interesting report that I saw earlier today. Some points that
need to be considered about this are:
The EPO test is somewhat suspect from a scientific point of view but it is
what we have and presumably somewhat better than hematocrit testing which
was all that was available before.
The number of riders positive for corticosteroids is fairly high, given that
there is likely little to no performance enhancement with use of
corticosteroids, as opposed to the performance enhancement claimed for
anabolic steroids. Corticosteroids are legal for use topically (applied to
the skin) or intra-articular (injected into a joint) but not when taken
orally or given by intramuscular or intravenous injection. This is rather
silly since there is systemic absorption, although somewhat limited, when
the corticosteroids are used topically or injected into a joint. In
addition, urine and blood testing will not differentiate the route of
administration.
The number of riders positive for salbutamol (albuterol is the generic name
in the US, Ventolin. Preventol, et.al. the brand names) is somewhat lower
than you might expect. Previous samples of elite level athletes have shown
albuterol use in 20% or more. Albuterol is used to treat asthma. Clearly
the incidence of asthma in elite athletes is less than 20%, probably less
than the 10% found in this group. On the other hand albuterol is fairly
benign so it is used frequently even with marginal evidence of disease. It
also does not provide any performance enhancement, unless you have asthma.
Albuterol is allowed (with pre-notification under US rules) when used as an
inhaler. There would be no benefit to using it orally or by injection.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Becky and Nikos [mailto:niko-@dslnorthwest.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 13:22 PM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Drug report on Tour de France riders
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Drug report on Tour de France riders
The Associated Press
9/25/01 2:52 PM
PARIS (AP) -- Though more than one-third of this year's Tour de France
riders failed drug tests, all but one cyclist had medical reasons to use the
substances.
The government said 44 of the 128 riders tested positive. The findings were
published Monday by the Council to Prevent and Fight Doping.
One case involved EPO, a banned performance-enhancer. The other riders will
be asked to show they had approval. If they cannot provide medical documents
to the drug council or the French Cycling Federation, they could be banned
from competing in France.
No names of riders were disclosed. Four French teams and all 13 foreign
teams, including Lance Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service squad, had riders who
tested positive.
U.S. Postal director of operations Dan Osipow told The Associated Press he
had "no idea" about the report's results and said he didn't know if any
riders on the team used cortisone.
Spanish rider Txema Del Olmo was dropped from the race by his team after
testing positive.
During the tour, some riders were tested more than once. Fifty tests showed
use of corticosteroids. The substances are not banned but are subject to
restrictions and require a prescription.
Twelve tests showed use of salbutamol, a mild drug used to treat asthma. It
is banned unless administered with an inhaler.
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