Abstract

The World Anti-doping Agency stipulates that athletes who declare the use of salbutamol should not exceed 1600 μg over a 24 h period. Most studies investigating the effect of inhaled salbutamol on maximal flow volume values, such as FEV₁, have investigated doses of up to 800 μg of salbutamol. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaling 800 μg or 1600 μg on the FEV₁ in non-asthmatic football players. Five male non-asthmatic football players (mean+SD; age 24+4 y; weight 71+4 kg; height 175+5 cm) volunteered. Participants attended the laboratory on six occasions to inhale either a placebo, 800 μg of salbutamol or 1600 μg salbutamol and complete a football-specific run. Maximal Flow Volume Loops were measured at baseline, 10 min following inhalation of salbutamol or placebo and 5 min following the football specific run. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed to investigate the changes in FEV₁ 10 min post salbutamol and post football specific treadmill run. Significance was assumed if p<0.05. There was a significant difference (p=0.02) between FEV₁ following the inhalation of either 800 μg (4.4+0.5 l) or 1600 μg (4.4+0.4 l) salbutamol when compared to placebo (4.3+0.5 l) prior to the football-specific run. This significant difference was maintained following the completion of the football specific run following the inhalation of either 800 μg or 800 μg (4.5+0.5 l) or 1600 μg (4.5+0.5 l) salbutamol when compared placebo (4.3+0.5 l). The improvements in FEV₁ following the inhalation of 800 μg or 1600 μg salbutamol prior to the football-specific treadmill run appears to suggest there is a potential for significant bronchodilation in the airways of non-asthmatic football players. The difference in FEV₁ between placebo and salbutamol appears to be maintained following the completion of a football-specific treadmill run.