Greetings to all: The IPF medical committee has received the updated WADA list of banned and specified substances for 2010. Major changes include the re-introduction of pseudoephedrine to the banned substances list. Be careful! This is a common ingredient in cold medications, and may be present in other medicines/supplements as well. Pseduephedrine will have a urine concentration threshold of 150 micrograms/ml, meaning an amount detected above this is an "adverse analytical finding" - a failed drug test. It is impossible for the medical committee to advise how much pseudoephedrine can be taken over a given time period and still stay under the threshold, so best advice is to avoid it during competition time.
Asthma patients need to also note that salbutamol and salmeterol now only need a declaration of use (not TUE). However, terbutaline and formeterol still need a TUE. It is best if your physician can control your symptoms with salbutamol or salmeterol. The approval of terbutaline and/or formeterol will require a statement from your physician supporting that the other drugs are ineffective for your disease in order for the TUE to be considered. There are also "threshold" levels of these drugs - meaning that if you are tested and the lab finds that the drug is in concentration greater than the threshold, you have an "adverse analytical finding". This is a positive drug test. Do not use these medications in amount greater than that prescribed by your physician to avoid problems.
We are all responsible for what enters our body - intentionally or accidentally. Remember that we must maintain compliance with the WADA code. Participation in the Olympics is the dream of all dedicated powerlifters, and reducing the number of failed drug tests is critical to achieving that goal. We can all start by avoiding the "accidental" failures for drugs like pseudoephedrine and hormone precursors commonly added to protein/creatine. Check with your national medical committee and the links below before taking any medications. Read the labels of your supplements and do not take chances. WADA code is complex, and changes often, so the links below are key to staying current.
The medical committee also would like to clarify the TUE process. Some medications are obviously not a problem and require minimal support for apporoval. In fact WADA has reduced the work load by adding the "declaration of use" category. However, applications for drugs such as insulin, growth hormone, testosterone, lasix/hydrocholorthiazide, etc require careful consideration and extensive documentation of a lack of alternatives. Even with a completed application, the medical committee may deny the TUE. The lifter may then appeal to WADA directly. The medical committee seeks to provide compliance with WADA, but also to protect the safety of the lifter. In truth, it may not be in the best interest of a lifter who is overweight, diabetic and taking several medications for blood pressure to compete in powerlifting. Records and medals are nice, but not worth damage to our health.
At this time of year I would like to personally thank the members of the medical committee who volunteer their time and expertise to keep our lifters both in good health and in compliance with WADA, and also to thank Detlev and the IPF executive committee who continue to support our efforts. I wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas and Holiday season, and best of luck for success on the platform in 2010.
Chris Calvano MD PhD FACS
IPF Medical Committee / Anti-doping Hearing Panel