As reported by Cyclingnews, non-negative results for banned substances were noted in three participants of this year's Giro d'Italia.
"Allegedly, two Italians tested positive for the presence of Salbutamol and one Spanish rider's test showed elevated testosterone levels. On Wednesday, Eurosport reported the alleged identity of the three riders: Italians Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) and Spaniard Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval).
The two Italians have medical exemptions on file for treating asthma, while according to Eurosport, Mayo is known to be prone to natural testosterone variations, something he has documented previously with the UCI."
On the surface, this report seems very benign and the results inconspicuous. But given the current doping climate of professional cycling, every act is now under suspicion and every character possibly wears a Janus mask.
The use of Salbutamol may seem especially disconcerting, as its alternative, Clenbuterol, is highly effective in increasing the aerobic capacity, of horses.
However, the former hasn't been shown to be effective in performance enhancement. And unbeknownst to most of the general public, asthma is quite common or prevalent in cyclists. In a 1996 study of 669 athletes who competed in the Atlanta Summer Olympics, 45% of the cyclists had asthma.
Does that percentage seem kind of high? Would it seem even more disproportionately high given that approximately 6% of ALL Americans have asthma?
In a sport where it's Grand Tour champions have been noted to have enhanced aerobic systems, cyclists sure have bad (or extremely sensitive) lungs.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Much Ado About Nothing?
As reported by Cyclingnews, non-negative results for banned substances were noted in three participants of this year's Giro d'Italia.
"Allegedly, two Italians tested positive for the presence of Salbutamol and one Spanish rider's test showed elevated testosterone levels. On Wednesday, Eurosport reported the alleged identity of the three riders: Italians Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) and Spaniard Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval).
The two Italians have medical exemptions on file for treating asthma, while according to Eurosport, Mayo is known to be prone to natural testosterone variations, something he has documented previously with the UCI."
On the surface, this report seems very benign and the results inconspicuous. But given the current doping climate of professional cycling, every act is now under suspicion and every character possibly wears a Janus mask.
The use of Salbutamol may seem especially disconcerting, as its alternative, Clenbuterol, is highly effective in increasing the aerobic capacity, of horses.
However, the former hasn't been shown to be effective in performance enhancement. And unbeknownst to most of the general public, asthma is quite common or prevalent in cyclists. In a 1996 study of 669 athletes who competed in the Atlanta Summer Olympics, 45% of the cyclists had asthma.
Does that percentage seem kind of high? Would it seem even more disproportionately high given that approximately 6% of ALL Americans have asthma?
In a sport where it's Grand Tour champions have been noted to have enhanced aerobic systems, cyclists sure have bad (or extremely sensitive) lungs.
"Allegedly, two Italians tested positive for the presence of Salbutamol and one Spanish rider's test showed elevated testosterone levels. On Wednesday, Eurosport reported the alleged identity of the three riders: Italians Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) and Spaniard Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval).
The two Italians have medical exemptions on file for treating asthma, while according to Eurosport, Mayo is known to be prone to natural testosterone variations, something he has documented previously with the UCI."
On the surface, this report seems very benign and the results inconspicuous. But given the current doping climate of professional cycling, every act is now under suspicion and every character possibly wears a Janus mask.
The use of Salbutamol may seem especially disconcerting, as its alternative, Clenbuterol, is highly effective in increasing the aerobic capacity, of horses.
However, the former hasn't been shown to be effective in performance enhancement. And unbeknownst to most of the general public, asthma is quite common or prevalent in cyclists. In a 1996 study of 669 athletes who competed in the Atlanta Summer Olympics, 45% of the cyclists had asthma.
Does that percentage seem kind of high? Would it seem even more disproportionately high given that approximately 6% of ALL Americans have asthma?
In a sport where it's Grand Tour champions have been noted to have enhanced aerobic systems, cyclists sure have bad (or extremely sensitive) lungs.
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