Swimmer Jessica Hardy tests positive for clenbuterol

U.S. Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy tested positive for the asthma medication Clenbuterol in both A and B samples at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska on July 1st and July 4, 2008. Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator belonging to a class of drugs known as beta-2 adrenergic agonists or long-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist (LABA) . Clenbuterol is similar to Albuterol and Salmeterol which are also LABAs.

It is well-known that a high percentage of elite swimmers have exercise-induced asthma. It is also known that most asthmatic swimmers competing in the Olympics have therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to use beta-2 agonists like albuterol, formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline for therapeutic purposes.

The amazing swimmer Dara Torres makes no secret of her use of albuterol and formoterol; these are two different beta-2 agonists (LABAs). She probably tests positive for these substances on a regular basis too since United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) tests her frequently due to her participation in Project Believe.

Dara Torres has a therapeutic use exemption. She is permitted to take the banned performance-enhancing drugs Albuterol and Symbicort for “therapeutic” purposes as long as it does not exceed the arbitrarily defined threshold of 1,000 nanograms per milliliter.

The 2008 WADA Prohibited List has provisions for athletes to use specific banned performance enhancing drugs as long as they are granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE). Athletes can use the following banned asthma drugs if they have a TUE and the banned substances never exceed the defined threshold during testing - albuterol, formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline.

So why is Jessica Hardy’s positive test for a similar asthma medication such a problem?

Hardy is known to have asthma. We are guessing that she has a therapeutic use exemption. And it is has been reported that the levels of clenbuterol detected in her positive samples were very low, certainly at levels consistent with therapeutic use.

Apparently, two asthma medications in the beta-2 agonists (LABAs) category have been prohibited even for therapeutic purposes. These asthma medications are clenbuterol and zilpaterol; they are classified as “anabolic agents” and detection will result in an adverse analytical finding (AAF) or failed test.

Some examples of LABAs approved by WADA for therapeutic purposes include Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Brovana, Foradil, Perforomist, Proventil, Serevent Diskus, Symbicort, and Ventolin.

Interestingly, the effects of these “approved” drugs are very similar to clenbuterol. Clenbuterol was classified as an anabolic agent based on dosages used in livestock and NOT therapeutic dosages used in humans. We expect that Albuterol and other approved LABAs would exhibit practically identical anabolic effects if they were administered at similar dosages in livestock. 

Oh and by the way, the dosages of LABAs shown to be anabolic in livestock would be fatal in humans as it is several hundred times the therapeutic human dosage.

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