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Lotto-Soudal's Tim Wellens says cyclists using inhalers are cheatingTim Wellens (picture source - Lotto Soudal).jpg

Lotto-Soudal's Tim Wellens says cyclists using inhalers are cheating

Belgian rider who abandoned Tour de France rather than take drugs under TUE says rules should be black and white, not grey
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Jan 11, 2018 16:12
36

Lotto-Soudal rider Tim Wellens, who last year withdrew from the Tour de France due to breathing difficulties, ha said that professional cyclists using anti-asthma inhalers are cheating.

His comments were made in an extensive interview with Belgian televisions station RTBF in which the 26-year-old was asked his thoughts on the Chris Froome salbutamol case and about therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs).

> Froome: Dick Pound pours scorn on “heroic asthmatics” in cycling and says Wada could step in if UCI doesn’t impose ban

A urine sample taken from Froome at last year’s Vuelta, which he won, had twice the permitted amount of the anti-asthma drug salbutamol. The Team Sky rider has vowed to clear his name, but could ultimately lose that title and face a ban.

Salbutamol is among the drugs that World Anti-Doping Agency rules permit athletes to take up to a certain level, which Wellens says creates a grey area.

“I’d like it to be black and white, not grey,” said Wellens, a two-time winner of both the Eneco Tour and the Tour de Pologne, and a Giro d’Italia stage winner.

“Everyone knows that a product such as cortisone – which is found in the grey zone – gives a lot of benefits in terms of physical performance.

“When riders use it, clearly it’s annoying. It’s called … cheating!

“Sometimes, when you’re ill, you have no choice, you have to use it. But you can always decide to stop racing.”

Wellens, who received widespread praise after abandoning last year’s Tour de France rather than take otherwise banned medicine under a TUE, revealed that doctors had told him he could increase his lung capacity by 7 or 8 per cent if he used an inhaler.

> Tour de France rider abandons race after rejecting Therapeutic Use Exemption that would have let him continue

“But I’m against inhalers,” he said. “I don’t want to improve my breathing by 7 per cent in that way.

“And I believe that once you start using an inhaler, afterwards you don’t know how to live without one.

“I refuse to be dependent on this kind of thing. Therefore, I’m clearly against them.

“But lots of people use them. If the public knew how many riders use an inhaler … it’s enormous!”

He revealed that his brother had to abandon dreams of becoming a professional cyclist after he was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma and turned down the drugs that would have let him continue racing because of the potential effect on his long-term health.

Wellens was asked whether the issue of inhalers was openly discussed with his team mates or whether it was a private matter, with riders keeping them hidden in their jersey pockets.

He replied: “No, riders don’t hide their inhalers, they’re not embarrassed. But yes, we often have discussions on the team bus!”

Chris Froome
Tim Wellens
Asthma
salbutamol
TUEs
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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36 comments

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Russell Orgazoid replied to joules1975 | 6 years ago
1 like

joules1975 wrote:

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

He is making a sound point.

Many, not all, riders are ABUSING the inhaler not USING it for medical reasons.

An inconvenient truth for Froomey's fans, I'd suggest.

Pro cyclist's are just as guilty as any other sportsmen/women of cheating.

The diving footballer is just more conspicuous.

It's not as if cycling has a lily-white history.

They are professional and will do what it takes to gain an advantage. 

Success=Money&fame.

Are you a medical doctor who has analysed the use of inhalers by the many riders you describe and assessed that use against their medical records?

Thought not. How can you say that they are being abused?

Many pro-cyclists, as with many athletes, push the boundaries of what they can get away with in order to compete and improve their chances of winning, which is the general point you were making.

Whether salbutamol and similar asthma relievers actually increase performance seems unlikely from the information I've read, but as an asthmatic myself, I will asknowledge that any placebo effect of having a puff on my inhaler alone might give me a slight boost even if the drugs themselves have little or no effect at that particular moment.

Whether that placebo gives me a physical advantage over those I'm riding with is a different matter, but given the evidance I've seen referenced indicates that inhalers have little to no effect once the asthmatic symtoms have been relived,  any additional usage is pointless. Any physical advandage would be as a result of reliveing a physical disadvantage that I'd been suffering - in other words simply boosting me back up to the performance level I should have been at anyway.

Are YOU a medical doctor? Thought not.

How come riders have been banned for it's overuse then? Because there is an advantage gained. Poor asthmatics BS. Every fucking rider is on the juice.

If you aren't on the dope, you will not cope.

The same may well happen to Froome.

Avatar
alansmurphy replied to Russell Orgazoid | 6 years ago
1 like
Plasterer's Radio wrote:

joules1975 wrote:

Plasterer's Radio wrote:

He is making a sound point.

Many, not all, riders are ABUSING the inhaler not USING it for medical reasons.

An inconvenient truth for Froomey's fans, I'd suggest.

Pro cyclist's are just as guilty as any other sportsmen/women of cheating.

The diving footballer is just more conspicuous.

It's not as if cycling has a lily-white history.

They are professional and will do what it takes to gain an advantage. 

Success=Money&fame.

Are you a medical doctor who has analysed the use of inhalers by the many riders you describe and assessed that use against their medical records?

Thought not. How can you say that they are being abused?

Many pro-cyclists, as with many athletes, push the boundaries of what they can get away with in order to compete and improve their chances of winning, which is the general point you were making.

Whether salbutamol and similar asthma relievers actually increase performance seems unlikely from the information I've read, but as an asthmatic myself, I will asknowledge that any placebo effect of having a puff on my inhaler alone might give me a slight boost even if the drugs themselves have little or no effect at that particular moment.

Whether that placebo gives me a physical advantage over those I'm riding with is a different matter, but given the evidance I've seen referenced indicates that inhalers have little to no effect once the asthmatic symtoms have been relived,  any additional usage is pointless. Any physical advandage would be as a result of reliveing a physical disadvantage that I'd been suffering - in other words simply boosting me back up to the performance level I should have been at anyway.

Are YOU a medical doctor? Thought not.

How come riders have been banned for it's overuse then? Because there is an advantage gained. Poor asthmatics BS. Every fucking rider is on the juice.

If you aren't on the dope, you will not cope.

The same may well happen to Froome.

You didn't give him time to answer, he might be a medical doctor...

Apparently the advantage is gained only when used in forms other than the inhaler, e.g. in tablet form and the main advantage is that it masks other drug use, hence why there's a rule in the top end limits rather than a complete ban. Now would be a good time to try and learn this stuff, apparently Froome returned an adverse result so there's a little in the mainstream media about it...

Avatar
Grahamd | 6 years ago
7 likes

Asthma kills, approximately 1200 people each year in the UK. Just because his asthma is moderate enough not to require any medication, it does not mean that his approach should be encouraged. Publishing his story could encourage others to follow and is wholly irresponsible. 

Avatar
justDave | 6 years ago
4 likes

I'm an asthmatic and insulin-dependent diabetic - perhaps I should just stop riding altogether? Or maybe these chronic illnesses could be described as disabilities and be included in the Paralympics? Unfortunately we used to be able to trust doctors to navigate these medical dilemmas but they have proved all-too willing to "assist" riders over the last couple of decades. 

Avatar
alansmurphy | 6 years ago
8 likes

As insulin users should Team Novo stop racing?

The lung capacity claims show he's taken information from someone ill-informed and applied them to his rhetoric.

You either ban everything, nothing or have a set of rules. If people stick to the rules then it's an issue of your morals versus someone else's but by definition it is not cheating...

Avatar
WiznaeMe replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

As insulin users should Team Novo stop racing? ...

I think it is safe to say that insulin use is unlimited in any sport as it would be fatal to a non-diabetic and essential to a diabetic.  Insulin can’t fall into a “grey” area.

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