Are you reporting your drug use?

Triathlon Forum
1

This question arose from a post I left yesterday concerning a recent diagnosis with asthma. By the way, thank you for all the great responses! One of the topics that came up was the prescription I was given is on WADA’s list of banned substances. I contacted USAT and was referred to USADA for a form to fill out that gave “Therapeutic Use Exemption”. One of the comments I received was that by filling the form out and sending it in was “overkill” unless I was racing for money or I was an elite. I don’t race for money and I am not an elite but I am racing at Nationals and am an “All American” with USAT.

My question is do you think it is overkill or do we have a responsibility to play by the rules we subject our elite athletes to? My personal feeling is if we demand our athletes to be clean and we ask them to follow the rules should we ourselves be held to that standard?

2

Why not just fill it out to be on the safe side?. Then no one can accuse you of cheating/misleading since you followed the rules and have a valid exemption.

3

Do they bother testing AG’s at Nats? If they don’t, then don’t bother with the form.

Ed

4

My question is do you think it is overkill or do we have a responsibility to play by the rules we subject our elite athletes to?

Overkill? I don’t even think we need to get into a discsussion abouut whether or not we have a responsibility to play by the elites’ rules. You have to fill out a form and mail it in. That’s easy protection against complaints of doping by a fast age grouper. Why wouldn’t you?

5

I agree. It’s a form to make you race legally. This reminds me of golf so much…when you go out alone, you still should count all of your strokes…

6

**Are you reporting your drug use? **

Are you obligated to report overuse of ST? :smiley:

7

You know I’ve used an asthma inhaler for years due to excersize and allergies and never would have considered reporting it to anyone. Thanks for posting this.

8

Since you know you should, I would. I would have never considered the need to report this type of drug; but I guess it’s required.

I would and keep my name clear.

9

I checked out the WADA website and they have a good study on asthma and athletes. It discusses the diagnosis and treatment for athletes and the prescribed medications as well as how to go about getting approval. It’s amazing how many athlete’s have asthma and compete. Swimmers and biathletes seem to have it the worst.

10

I reported mine (salbutamol/albuterol) last year, since I wanted to qualify for AG Worlds and didn’t want any technicalities to sabotage that. This year I got a letter from USADA saying if I competed at any race with the inhaler and no TUE, I would be disqualified.
So, yes, report it. An annual doctor’s signature and a postage stamp, how hard could it be ?
They don’t have to test you - anyone seeing you using the inhaler could lodge a protest. The world of AG tri is cutthroat enough that I wouldn’t be surprised…