Doping drug does little to improve cyclists' performance

Scientists in New Zealand say many top cyclists may be putting their health at risk for no competitive gain by taking the doping drug pseudoephedrine.

The researchers from Massey University say pseudoephedrine gave no boost to performance in a study they conducted and in fact the drug could have adverse effects.

According to the new research time trials carried out for the study using pseudoephedrine or a placebo found no boost was achieved by using the drug and it didn't have any noticeable effect on performance.

Dr. Toby Mündel and Dr. Steve Stannard, from the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health tested eight well-trained cyclists who performed two time trials in the laboratory - 90 minutes before each trial they were given either a placebo or approximately three times the usually prescribed dose of pseudoephedrine.

Dr. Mündel says the results showed that pseudoephedrine did not have a noticeable effect on the cyclists' performance - pseudoephedrine is commonly used in cold medicines but is also used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine or P.

Pseudoephedrine was taken off the banned substance list by the World Anti-Doping Agency five years ago but authorities in New Zealand are now considering a total ban, after Prime Minister John Key asked advisers to examine whether pseudoephedrine could be removed from cold and flu remedies without rendering those drugs ineffective.

According to Dr. Mündel one of those participating in the research had unpleasant side effects such as vomiting once the test had been completed, muscle cramps and felt considerably hotter - others also commented that they suffered slight nausea.

Dr. Mündel says the research shows there may be some risk if riders are already pushing themselves hard, as taking pseudoephedrine could increase their heart rate further and he says the reason they decided to look at it in the sporting arena is the same reason the government is looking at banning, it, because it can be abused and the research suggest the risks outweigh the benefits.

The research will be published in the European Journal of Sport Science.