IS SALMETEROL ERGOGENIC

Objective: To assess the effects of 50 mu g of inhaled salmeterol on p ulmonary function, selected physical capacities, and fine motor contro l in 16 nonasthmatic male cyclists and triathletes, mean age of 23.2 ( SD = 3.5) years. Design: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cr ossover trial. Setting: Human Physical Performance Laboratory, the Uni versity of Western Australia. Subjects: Sixteen healthy male high-perf ormance nonasthmatic athletes with a mean age of 23.2 years participat ed in the study. Intervention: Subjects attended three experimental te sting sessions at which salmeterol (50 mu g), a placebo, or ''no treat ment'' was administered in random order in a double-blind fashion, on separate occasions, prior to exercise. Main outcome measures: During e ach testing, session lung function was measured before and 10 min afte r the treatment. Tests of reaction time and hand steadiness and then t wo anaerobic cycle tests followed. The first, a 10-s all-out sprint wa s followed, after a 3-min rest, by a 30-s all-out sprint performed on a front access bicycle ergometer. After 10 min recovery, leg flexion-e xtension peak torque was measured on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer a t speeds of 120 and 180 degrees s(-1). Main results: Lung function var iables, reaction time, movement time, alactic anaerobic power, lactaci d anaerobic power, and leg-flexion and leg-extension muscular strength were similar among the three treatment groups. Conclusions: The preex ercise administration of 50 mu g of inhaled salmeterol has no performa nce-enhancing effects in nonasthmatic athletes. We believe that athlet es with asthma should be permitted to use salmeterol before competitio n.