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Is an inhaler cheating?
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 2009-08-19 8:19 AM |
Regular  68  Katy, TX |  Subject: Is an inhaler cheating?Some background...I have never considered myself an athlete until I started triathlons about 3 years ago. I am a MOB to BOP'r (really just a BOPr) and happy just to be training on a regular basis and staying somewhat in shape. I've never been much of a runner as I got winded easily and have to settle for a slow pace. I still managed to push myself through marathon training 2 years ago. Well, this year has been particularly tough on the run to the extent that I never had a "good feeling" workout. I have written it off to the hot and humid weather we've been having here in Houston. All this changed when my sister (who is an MD) heard me complain and took me to her office for a quick test. She feels that I have exercise-induced asthma and gave me a sample inhaler. WOW, what a difference. Everytime I have run with the inhaler has been a good run after a summer of ho-hum and bad runs. So here's my question...is this cheating? A friend of mine that runs completitively told me that if I were competitive, I'd be tested at running events for such a violation. Does the same go for tri's? I'm still not going to compete for anything, except to break into the top-half vs. bottom half. |
| 2009-08-19 8:24 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 200 Hudson Valley, NY | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? It doesn't sound like cheating to me - it's a medical necessity (spoken from someone who also has asthma and sports induced asthma, and puff on my own inhaler from time to time). But, most of the inhalers have a limit as to how much you can use them (ie: 2 puffs 4 x/day or something like that). Be sure to follow the directions. I'll be interested to see what others think. |
| 2009-08-19 8:29 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| 128 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? CHEATER!! LOL- no it's not cheating. I think I have the same thing- I cough a lot when I get into the run and need to go to the doc's to check it out. |
| 2009-08-19 8:30 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 318 Indianapolis | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? You have a medical condition and need an inhaler, that is not cheating. As far as being tested?? tested for what? You won't have any problems in tris. I am curious as to what your friend is talking about. Do they hold a candle 20 ft away and if you can blow it out, you are DQ'd? I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you can now keep up with said friend, right? Anyway, I am a beginner, but have never even heard of anything like that in the AG category. Just my .02 |
| 2009-08-19 8:30 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Extreme Veteran 465 Atlanta, GA | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I don't think so at all. I have pretty bad asthma and have to use a rescue inhaler everyone once in a while and take a daily medication. In fact, if I didn't use these medications, there is no way that I would be able to do any sort of physical activity.My suggestion would be to see a pulmonologist. They can administer a pulmonary function testing which really shows what is going on with your lungs. Edited by scottyr7 2009-08-19 8:30 AM |
| 2009-08-19 8:35 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? No, it's not cheating - if I recall, there are a couple of triathletes on the ITU circuit who are asthmatic. They carry their inhalers with them just in case something happens. |
| 2009-08-19 8:38 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Master 1704  Charlotte | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? No more than popping a Claritin for allegies. Is it illegal in professional sports...yes. Is is legal for amatures...yes. |
| 2009-08-19 8:41 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 125 West Hartford, CT | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I would interested if anyone thought it was cheating. I have been a severe asthmatic my entire life. I have to take Advair everyday to prevent attacks - and before EVERY workout - I will take 2 puffs of my emergency inhaler. It keeps me from having to run with it, etc. If not for my asthma medication I would be laid up without the ability to do anything physical. Your friend sounds like an a$$ to me. Sorry for being so blunt but I guess I take it to heart seeing this is a condition that I have had all my life and now 2 of my 3 children have it. |
| 2009-08-19 8:45 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Master 2404 Redlands, CA | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Unfortunately I've used an inhaler my whole life. You do have to deal with stuff that others dont like where to store it on the run, and surviving without it through the swim. The worst thing about asthma is when you have those bad attacks during a race or training rides, and guys you destroy on any given day just pass you up... |
| 2009-08-19 8:50 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Veteran 154 Richmond, KY | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? If you have asthma I can't imagine anyone would call it cheating, but if you don't, of course it's cheating. |
| 2009-08-19 9:09 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Master 3127 Sunny Southern Cal | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Something like 70% of the field had medical excuses for banned substances a couple years ago in the TdF. If you start hitting the podium, I'd have to wonder how the people behind you would have done using an inhaler, too. I have to ask, can you make it to the finish line without using the inhaler? And using the inhaler makes you faster. If you finished fourth place, and the guy in third place found it medically necessary to use EPO or take testosterone supplements, would you feel that he'd cheated? Personally, I really don't care what other people are taking in a race. I'm in it for personal improvement and health, and that's pretty much it. Maybe I'd care if I were closer to the front, but that doesn't look like a big worry anytime soon. |
| 2009-08-19 9:17 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Expert 1394 Wilmington, NC | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Yes and No It is cheating if you do not have a Theraputic Use Exemption (ie it has been prescribed by a doctor) under WADA rules and I believe that USAT follows WADA guidlines. In the world of AG triathlon you are never going to get tested, but if you did and they found beta 2 agonists (generally found in asthma inhaler meds) you would be in line for a suspension without the TUE. It is very easy to get a Doctor to prescribe an inhaler and for this reason people definately use it to cheat. Have you ever noticed the how many elite athletes pop up with asthma? |
| 2009-08-19 9:36 AM in reply to: #2357717 |
Master 1704 Charlotte | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? qrkid - 2009-08-19 10:17 AM Have you ever noticed the how many elite athletes pop up with asthma? Actually it has been studied that elite athletes are at a 5x greater chance of asthma than the general public. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1659046,00.html |
| 2009-08-19 9:57 AM in reply to: #2357685 |
Pro 4828 The Land of Ice and Snow | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? SevenZulu - 2009-08-19 10:09 AM Something like 70% of the field had medical excuses for banned substances a couple years ago in the TdF. If you start hitting the podium, I'd have to wonder how the people behind you would have done using an inhaler, too. I have to ask, can you make it to the finish line without using the inhaler? And using the inhaler makes you faster. If you finished fourth place, and the guy in third place found it medically necessary to use EPO or take testosterone supplements, would you feel that he'd cheated? Personally, I really don't care what other people are taking in a race. I'm in it for personal improvement and health, and that's pretty much it. Maybe I'd care if I were closer to the front, but that doesn't look like a big worry anytime soon. Ummmm.....sorry but when you have asthma using an inhaler does NOT give you an advantage...........it just allows you to have lungs that function normally. Asthma is a disease.....an inhaler helps to treat it. Plain and simple. Now if you do NOT have asthma and then start using an inhaler i suppose thats a different matter ........... |
| 2009-08-19 10:09 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? This might be an extreme example but....is someone who had a leg amputated required to hop on one leg for an entire run vs. using a prosthesis? If it is a medical necessity that you require in order to be on an even playing field with the general population and you have the correct and legal medical documention to back up your need for an inhaler there is nothing cheating about it. If someone is perfectly fine with no sign of an issue and are just using it as a means to make them faster without working for it...then it is cheating. Sounds to me like you are ok, especially as an AGer. (disclaimer: I am in no ways a legal or rules expert when it comes to triathlons, running races, or cycling events and this is just based on my own opinion and moral compass as to what I would consider cheating.) |
| 2009-08-19 10:12 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Elite 3471 Evergreen, CO | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I have exercise-induced asthma also. I used to take a hit off my inhaler before every ride because I could ride so much stronger. Then I found out that one's body becomes dependent on the albuterol in the sense that it produces less and less of whatever it is that albuterol replaces for the body. So I only use it when absolutely necessary to get through a training run and usually before races to avoid an asthma attack. What also works is to purposely provoke an asthma attack and recover -- then you're good for hours. I do hill repeats about 45 minutes before race start and find that if I forget to use my inhaler it doesn't matter. Also, the more I train without my inhaler the less I need it and I find that I keep my training runs at a more moderate level because of my breathing, rather than running too hard all the time. |
| 2009-08-19 10:14 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Master 1641 Seattle, California | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? You are training and racing for fun. Use the inhaler, it sounds like you need it. I very much doubt anyone would ever question your motives. If you start placing in your AG at larger races then maybe look at this with a little more scrutiny but until then forget about it and do what you need to do. Just get out there and have fun. |
| 2009-08-19 10:18 AM in reply to: #2357685 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? SevenZulu - 2009-08-19 9:09 AM If you start hitting the podium, I'd have to wonder how the people behind you would have done using an inhaler, too. I have to ask, can you make it to the finish line without using the inhaler? And using the inhaler makes you faster. If you finished fourth place, and the guy in third place found it medically necessary to use EPO or take testosterone supplements, would you feel that he'd cheated? can a person with one leg make it to the finish line? probably. Could he get there faster with a prosthetic (as opposed to hopping)? Yes. Is he cheating? If the dude's got asthma and needs an inhaler to make his lungs function properly, that's a far cry from taking a substance to make his body work BETTER than properly. |
| 2009-08-19 10:19 AM in reply to: #2357863 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Ha! I just posted without reading yours. Great minds. :p |
| 2009-08-19 10:21 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Champion 6962 Atlanta, Ga | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? As some others have pointed out, it's not illegal as long as you don't have copius amounts in your system. If you need it, then use it. If you take an extra puff at the start because it makes you faster, then that could be 'seen' as cheating. But as was also stated above, a large number of elite/pro athletes are diagnosed with Asthma so they can have access to the inhaler. Do they use it as a rescue inhaler or as a performance enhancer is up to the individual. So that is where it truly comes down. If you need it, use it. If you use it to go faster, not because you need it, that's up to you. So your friend was right. |
| 2009-08-19 10:29 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Veteran 155 Virginia | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? If you have been diagnosed with asthma (any form) then no, its not cheating. Taking an inhaler just brings you up to the same playing field as those who don't suffer from this condition. I was diagnosed w/ exercise-induced asthma when I was in sixth grade and have taken inhalers ever since. When I was swimming competitively for USS (United States Swimming) I had to register my asthma medications with them for approval. Obviously, if I was drug tested those medications would turn up but would have already been known by and approved by the governing consul. I would imagine that ITU athletes and professional triathletes would do the same with USAT. (?) I haven't heard of doing this for AG athletes but maybe its something to look into. |
| 2009-08-19 10:52 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Regular 68 Katy, TX | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Awesome! Thanks for the support. I didn't consider it cheating myself, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't deluding myself. Even if it did, I would still use it because it made exercising so much more enjoyable. I do think that the weather has been a contributor to my troubles. The inhaler just makes my breathing feel more like it does when the temperature is in the 70's instead of the 90s. |
| 2009-08-19 11:12 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
| Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Hey, Quick follow up to OP... What would the effect be on a person who does not have asthma, and takes a puff from an inhailer? SInce the lungs/ bronchioles (whatever) are not constricted, would they feel an effect? JUST CURIOUS... |
| 2009-08-19 11:14 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Royal(PITA) 14270 West Chester, Ohio | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? I have asthma too. An inhaler is necessary . No discussion. If I didn't use my inhaler(s) and take allergy shots I would not be able to do anything....I would also require living in a bubble since I reacted to everything but horses on the allergy tests. Lately the asthma has also been exercise induced so I need the rescue inhaler before workouts with the maintenance inhalers routinely twice a day. |
| 2009-08-19 11:18 AM in reply to: #2357558 |
Champion 6046 New York, NY | Subject: RE: Is an inhaler cheating? Even with my inhalers my last tri was a breathing sufferfest. There is definitely no advantage! having said that, if you were pro, you would need a prescription and a medical necessity exemption for WADA. |
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