Are some asthma drugs banned in athletic competitions?

The determination of whether a drug or substance is banned or allowed in amateur athletic competitions is not based on whether it is medically necessary. Rather, such a determination is based on whether the substance in question can be performance-enhancing and offer an unfair competitive advantage. There are several organizations that make this determination and an athlete on an asthmatic drug should check with his coaches, physician, and appropriate athletic authority. Different athletic organizations may differ on what is banned or allowed. For example, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) follows International Olympic Committee guidelines for testing at Olympic events. Many amateur athletic organizations (termed National Governing Bodies) adopt USOC guidelines for drug testing at their events. In contrast, the NCAA has less stringent guidelines for certain substances used by asthmatics in during competitions. Further complicating an athlete's understanding of the situation, some substances that are banned in tablet form are allowed in inhaled form.

As an example, the USOC allows inhaled forms of the beta-2 agonist albuterol with written notification by a treating physician but bans tablet forms of albuterol. Certain other beta-adrenergic agonists (e.g. ephedrine, bitolterol, metaproterenol) are banned by the USOC. An athlete who participates in an amateur athletic event where drug testing may occur should check with his or her coaches and physicians regarding the allowed vs. banned status of any substance while competing. The United States Olympic Committee Drug Hotline, (800) 233-0393, or NCAA, (800) 546-0441, may provide information to specific questions on drugs, and educational materials in this regard. An asthmatic should also not assume that an over-the-counter (OTC) status of any drug implies its allowed status in athletic competitions; many OTC agents (e.g. combination decongestant-bronchodilators containing ephedrine) or herbal preparations bought in food stores (e.g. Ma Huang) contain stimulants useful for asthma but banned in certain athletic competition settings.

Contributed by:

Alt.Support.Asthma FAQ - Home