Background-Beta-2 agonists such as salbutamol are used, not only by asthmatic athletes to prevent exercise induced asthma, but also by non-asthmatic athletes as a potentially ergogenic agent. We have investigated whether inhaled salbutamol enhances endurance performance in non-asthmatic athletes. Methods-A prospective double blind, randomised, three way crossover design was used to study the eVects of 200 µg and 800 µg inhaled salbutamol versus a placebo in 12 trained triathletes. The treatments were compared in three identical cycle ergometer sessions at 85% of the predetermined maximal oxygen uptake. Lung function, endurance time, metabolic parameters (glucose, potassium, lactate, free fatty acid, and glycerol), and psychomotor performance were evaluated. Results-Neither endurance time nor post-exercise bronchodilation were significantly diVerent between the treatments. Metabolic parameters were aVected by exercise but not by treatment. Conclusions-Inhaled salbutamol, even in a high dose, did not have a significant eVect on endurance performance in nonasthmatic athletes, although the bronchodilating eVect of the drug at the beginning of exercise may have improved respiratory adaptation. Our results do not preclude an ergogenic eVect of 2 agonists given by other routes or for a longer period. (Thorax 2001;56:675-679)

Our study provides compelling evidence that endogenous nandrolone production in male athletes, during two very different types of exercise, produces urine levels far below the IOC threshold of 2 ng.mL(-1) urine. Thus, exercise does not induce endogenous nandrolone secretion.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of prolonged exercise at the ventilatory threshold and carbohydrate ingestion on single (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction time. Eight well-trained triathletes completed three testing sessions within a 3-week period. Maximal oxygen uptake was determined in the first test, whereas the second and the third sessions were composed of a 100-min run (treadmill 15 min, overground 70 min, treadmill 15 min) performed at the velocity associated with the ventilatory threshold. During these submaximal tests, the subjects ingested (in random order) 8 ml x kg(-1) body weight of either a placebo (Pl) or 5.5% carbohydrate (CHO) solution prior to the first submaximal run and 2 ml x kg(-1) body weight every 15 min after that. The cognitive tasks were performed before and after exercise for CRT, and before, during each submaximal run and after exercise for SRT. Furthermore, at the end of each submaximal test subjects were asked to report their rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Results showed a significant positive effect of CHO ingestion on RPE and CRT performance at the end of exercise, while no effect of exercise duration was found in the Pl condition. After a 100-min run, during the CHO condition, CRT mean (SD) group values decreased from 688.5 (51) ms to 654 (63) ms, while during the Pl condition, RPE mean group values increased from 11 (2) to 16 (1.02) and CRT mean values remained stable [688 (104) ms vs 676 (73.4) ms, P > 0.05]. No similar effect was observed for SRT. These results suggest that CHO-electrolyte ingestion during a 100-min run results in an improvement in the complex cognitive performance measured at the end of that run.

The aim of this study was to examine whether the increase in the energy cost of running (C(r)), previously reported to occur at the end of a prolonged run, could be influenced by the ingestion of either an artificially sweetened placebo (Pl) or a 5.5% carbohydrate (CHO) solution. Ten well-trained triathletes completed three testing sessions within a 3-week period. The aim of the first session was to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)(max)) and the velocity associated with ventilatory threshold (nu(VT)). The second and the third sessions were composed of two submaximal treadmill runs (20 min long, 0% grade, performed at nu(VT)), before and after an 80-min overground run, also conducted at nu(VT). During these submaximal tests, the subjects ingested (in a random order) either a Pl or CHO solution prior to the first submaximal run and every 20 min after that. During the first session, ventilatory threshold (VT) occurred at [mean (SD)] 81.2 (2.5)% VO(2)(max) and 16.5 (0.6) km. h(-1). A significant effect of exercise duration was found on C(r) (DeltaC(r)) at the end of the run, whatever the solution ingested (DeltaC(r) = 5.7% and 7.01% for CHO and Pl, respectively). A reduction in the respiratory exchange ratio (from 0.98 to 0.90) was observed only at the end of the Pl trial. In this study, C(r) seems to be affected only to a minor extent by substrate turnover. Moreover, the increase in the demand for oxygen, estimated from the increase in ventilation, accounted for only a minor proportion of the increase in C(r) (11% and 17% for CHO and Pl, respectively). No correlation was found between the changes in C(r) and the changes in the other physiological parameters recorded. These results suggest, indirectly, that C(r) increases during a 2-h run at 80% VO(2)(max) in well-trained subjects can be explained mainly by alterations in neuromuscular performance, which lead to a decrease in muscle efficiency.