Sports Drug Abuse clinical trials

Can Anti-asthmatic Medication Improve Sprint Performance in Healthy Endurance Athletes?

The prevalence of asthma among athletes is higher than in the normal population and endurance athletes are especially at increased risk. The gold standard for asthma treatment is inhaled glucocorticoids with inhaled beta2 agonists before exercise and as a symptom relief. However, the use of beta2 agonists in sports is debated because of potential performance-enhancing effects and its use is regulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The potential performance-enhancing effect of beta2 agonists on endurance performance and sprint performance has each been investigated in several studies as it has been suspected that non-asthmatic athletes use beta2 agonists for the purpose of improving performance. In conclusion, beta2 agonists do not improve endurance athletic performance in the doses and methods of use permitted by WADA. When it comes to anaerobic performance, the evidence is currently non-conclusive as studies report conflicting effects. It is therefore conceivable that beta2 agonists can improve the ability to sprint and increase power output during short periods of high energy expenditure during an endurance competition. By testing such anaerobic skills during endurance work in athletes, this study will provide valuable knowledge about whether this drug may affect sports performance and will be of interest to WADA and anyone else interested in fair play in sports. The purpose of the project is to investigate whether the use of a WADA approved dose of salbutamol (albuterol/Ventoline) has a performance-enhancing effect on sprint performance during and after endurance work on an ergometer bike. Well-trained cyclists who do not have asthma will perform two identical cycling protocols on two different days. The study is designed as a double-blind cross-over study with placebo. Participants will perform multiple 30-second sprints during a standard submaximal effort to investigate the effect of salbutamol on the maximum and average power of these sprints.