Reported use of ant-asthmatic medication in doping control forms from 2015-2019: Mapping retrospective data

Abstract

Aim: Lower airway dysfunction (LAD) is common in athletes, especially in athletes engaged in sports with high ventilatory demands or exposures to irritants such as cold and dry air, polluted air and trichloramines. The mechanism for LAD among athletes is poorly understood; however, asthma plays an important role and two different phenotypes of asthma have been presented based on the presence of airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms. Treatment of LAD among athletes are the same as for asthma in the general population. We know that anti-asthmatic medication is among the most commonly reported pharmaceuticals among doping controlled athletes. Thus, the aim of this study was to further investigate the use of different anti asthmatic products among doping controlled athletes.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study, evaluating retrospective data from doping control forms (DCFs) obtained during 2015-2019 by Anti-doping Norway in recreational and elite athletes, some of whom reappearing with multiple forms.

Results: Of 10 418 DCFs, 1702 (16.3%) contained one or more anti-asthmatic products. Bronchodilators were the most frequently reported medications, with anticholinergics the most frequently among them. DCFs reported from females, national level athletes, and athletes with high risk of LAD contained significantly more anti-asthmatic products compared to their counterparts (p <0.01). Highest reported usage was seen among age-group 30-34 and among athletes from endurance sports.

Conclusion: Reappearance of the same athlete in the dataset is a weakness. However, the study provides data on how guidelines are adhered to and how asthma medications are used among athletes in Norway. We need more knowledge in this area.