Saunier Duval Prodir suspends Piepoli
Saunier Duval Prodir announced that it has suspended rider Leonardo Piepoli after receiving official notice from the UCI stating that Piepoli’s samples have reported non-negative during tests from the Giro d’Italia.
The lab was not able to identify whether the high levels of Salbutamol were a result of inhalation or subcutaneous injection. While the case works its way through the system, the team decided to suspend the rider in accordance with the UCI Pro Tour code of ethics.
The UCI has filed all the relevant documents with the Monaco Cycling Federation.
**I’m not complaining at all, but wonder whether it is more enforcement, stricter enforcement, or simply cyclist being, well, dumb? **
I don’t know what his levels were, but Salbutamol is what Albuterol is called everywhere except the U.S. He could probably get the same levels by inhaler (lots of puffs), oral liquid or injection.
apparently he, like so many other pros, has an asthma condition that allows him to use it at certain levels…i just don’t get why all these pros have asthma…is it ‘exercize induced’? or a tactic to allow athletes to take illegal drugs legally?
I have a TUE to use Albuterol and don’t see it as a performance enhancer. At best it makes you jittery; at worst it gives you tachycardia when you exercise. I use it as little as possible – a few times a year and never before racing or training. From the docs I’ve talked to, anyone who uses it on a regular basis has the wrong treatment plan for their asthma.
I’m with Jens… I have a TUE for it and for Advair. If I take my Advair as prescribed, I only use the inhaler a few times a year, usually in very moldy conditions. It makes me so jittery, and my heart race so bad that I hate to use it, but if you really need it, you’d better use it. I cant imagine using it if I didnt need it. To get the TUE I had to show my testing that showed my lung function results.
As for the whole asthma thing… 25% of the population of many places have asthma. It really isnt surprising that a large number of cyclists, swimmers and runners have it as they have an even greater need for air flow than some kid sitting on the couch. When I sit in a docs office with no triggers, my lung function is MUCH higher than the normal population. Throw mold in there (which is everywhere in Virginia) and the lung function drops like a rock.
Well, I too use an inhaler with a diagnosed condition of exercise induced asthma and I completely agree as to the sideeffects of the inhaler. When I take my inhaler my HR goes up and I get very twitchy, which I have been told is a reaction to the steroid.
People seem to think that an inhaler is like taking rocket fuel and you’ll go infinetly faster, which is simply not the case.
I’ll also chime in and say that I avoid taking the stuff unless I absolutely have to. Especially not before races. Hate the way it makes me feel, and I think the jitteriness saps my energy. I can’t imagine it being taken as a PED.
There are a lot of weird drugs on that list that, having taken, I would never think they should be banned. Like that poor gymnast who had a cold and took pseudafed and lost her medal. That stuff makes me feel like ass and puts me to sleep. What is the rationale behind the PED line? If it affects your heart rate, it’s on the list?
Supposedly you can take it orally and intravenously as well as through an inhaler. I think the UCI is more worried about taken it that way than through an inhaler. I don’t know if it is an enhancement that way or not. It seems people with medical exemptions are getting nailed with having too much in their blood now. First Petacchi and now Piepoli. I hope these guys are not having their seasons ruined by something that is not a performance enhancement. Piepoli had a great Giro! He is working for his team leaders and is riding as well as ever. I hate to see this.
“Supposedly you can take it orally and intravenously as well as through an inhaler.”
not legally. WADA only allows for inhaled use. in high doses beta-2-agonists are shown in one older study to have anabolic effects. accordingly clenbuterol is on the banned list, and athletes have tested positive and gotten suspensions for using it for better than 20 years now.
Hello,
I’m not replying specifically to you, but ll the posts about how it wouldn’t likely help are missing a couple of points. One, is that drugs get put on the illegal list if they might help in any sport. The second is that many drugs get put on the lists just in case they may be abused, with no real evidence that they definately help. The third point is that the athletes aren’t really the best judge of whether or not a drug will help.
Consequently, it would be possible for a cyclist to get banned for having a diuretic (common in wrestling doping to loose water weight) and / or a sedative (used in target shooting to calm the jitters).
“Supposedly you can take it orally and intravenously as well as through an inhaler.”
not legally. WADA only allows for inhaled use. in high doses beta-2-agonists are shown in one older study to have anabolic effects. accordingly clenbuterol is on the banned list, and athletes have tested positive and gotten suspensions for using it for better than 20 years now.
True, not legally for athletes. The question the UCI is having with the higher concentrations is they cannot tell if the athletes administered it orally, intravenously or through an inhaler. That is what the athletes have been asked to prove (that is did indeed come from an inhaler) and I don’t think there is a way. (Of course the UCI may pictures of them shooting it up with Kate Moss or something.)
I agree that you should control asthma with ‘controller’ meds like inhaled steroids (not androgens) and/or singlulair, BUT if albuterol (salbutamol) makes you jittery or tachycardic, you should be tried on Xopenex. It is the levo isomer of albuterol. It is usually better for those who don’t tolerate albuterol very well. I DO use albuterol before workouts and races as I have exercise induced bronchospasm along with my asthma.
I have exercise induced bronchospasm along with my asthma.
I think I have that - Everytime I start the run in a race (the only time I run hard), my throat feels like it’s closing and people can hear me breathing (in & out) from about 100 yards away. I avoid taking my albuterol for the same reasons as jens - will Xopenex control bronchospasm?
I agree that you should control asthma with ‘controller’ meds like inhaled steroids (not androgens) and/or singlulair, BUT if albuterol (salbutamol) makes you jittery or tachycardic, you should be tried on Xopenex. It is the levo isomer of albuterol. It is usually better for those who don’t tolerate albuterol very well. I DO use albuterol before workouts and races as I have exercise induced bronchospasm along with my asthma.
Thanks Docfuel,
I wasn’t aware that Xopenex was available in inhaler form, until someone PMed me about it today. We have used it in my son’s nebulizer with a dramatic reduction in adverse symptoms over albuterol. I’m definitely going to use it next time I need a “rescue” inhaler.
apparently he, like so many other pros, has an asthma condition that allows him to use it at certain levels…i just don’t get why all these pros have asthma…is it ‘exercize induced’? or a tactic to allow athletes to take illegal drugs legally?
Well maybe they are just diagnosed more. A fork lift operator or accountant isn’t going to notice a little shortness of breath. I also need albutoral occasionally and don’t buy that it’s a performance enhancer.
Ironic thread and post. Next week I will be a subject in a study at a local college that will be looking at the effects of caffeine on lactate threshold and VO2 max. I have not seen the test procedures yet but I do know that I will get tested at least twice. I will post results if allowed by the study authors.
I am no expert, but I think there is some fuzziness in the definition of asthma. Maybe that opens the door to abuse. My lung function tested at 20% above normal for my age and size. But, with an inhaler I tested at 30% above normal. According to my doctor, that 10% difference means that I actually have asthma.
My physician gave me a card that will get me a free albuterol everytime I buy an Advair. Advair’s manufacturer is confident enough in their product that, if used properly, you don’t even need a bronchiodilator, but they’ll buy you one just in case.
If I haven’t been using my meds, I can definately tell, but overdoing it with albuterol is not helpful.