SUPPLEMENT

Inhaled ß₂ agonists and performance in competitive athletes

W Kindermann, T Meyer

Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Dr W Kindermann
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland Campus, Bldg. B 8-2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany; w.kindermann{at}mx.uni-saarland.de

Objectives: To provide an overview of the current literature on the use of inhaled ß₂ agonists in non-asthmatic competitive athletes, and to assess the performance enhancing effect of inhaled ß₂ agonists.

Methods: Review of the literature.

Results: Twenty randomised, placebo controlled studies (19 double blind, one single blind) were located. Only three studies reported a performance enhancing effect of inhaled ß₂ agonists. However, methodological shortcomings were most likely responsible for these findings (for example, non-elite athletes, inconsistent results in different tests, subgroups with above-average responsiveness).

Conclusions: This review reveals that there is no ergogenic potential of inhaled ß₂ agonists in non-asthmatic athletes. In view of the epidemiology of asthma in athletes and the considerable workload involved in provision of therapeutic use exemptions the inclusion of inhaled ß₂ agonists on the list of prohibited substances should be reconsidered.

Abbreviations: EIA, exercise-induced asthma; TUE, therapeutic use exemption; WADA, World Anti-Doping Agency

Keywords: doping; asthma; exercise; allergy; endurance

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