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Doping in Sport - Part 3

At Trimarni, we are against cortisone injections until it is a very last resort after months of seeking other (less invasive) treatments. A steroid shot is usually not a treatment for an underlying issue. It's usually a masking agent for pain. Even when it helps with inflammation, it's not treating the underlying issue. More so, research tells us that there are many severe side effects from cortisone injections, such as nerve damage, joint infection, thinking of skin and soft tissue near the injection sight, bone weakening (contributing to osteoporosis), bone death, and tendon weakening or rupture. Corticosteroids also suppress the immune system. So with hearing those side effects, please avoid steroid injections. While you may be familiar with cortisone injections, there are other glucocorticoids that can be prescribed via mouth, inhaler, intranasal spray, eye drops, topically and by injection:  Prednisone Prednisolone  Dexamethasone  These are commonly used to treat in...

Doping in Sport - part 2

Therapeutic Use Some athletes require the use of drugs for the treatment of a medical condition. Athletes, just like the normal population, are not immune to illnesses or conditions where drugs are often needed for treatment purposes. For example, lets look at some reasons why athletes may need a drug that is banned by WADA. The drug Raloxifene is used to help treat the thinning of bones (osteoporosis) in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and is on the prohibited list.  Calusterone is an orally active androgenic steroid used in the treatment of breast cancer. Calusterone is on the prohibited list.  Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in Mucinex and Sudafed, which is used to provide relief to sinus issues, breathing issues or the cold or flu.  According to WADA, Pseudoephedrine is a specified stimulant prohibited In-Competition at a urinary threshold of 150 µg/mL. The threshold level of 150 µg/mL has been established bas...

Doping in Sport - Part 1

On April 24th, American pro triathlete Collin Chartier admits EPO use after a positive drug test. "Erythropoietin, known as EPO, is prohibited under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations because it stimulates erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and can modify the body’s capacity to transport oxygen, increasing stamina, and performance." Although doping is prevalant in all competitive sports, triathlon has had a reputation of being a clean sport (in other words, athletes train and race without the use of performance enhancing drugs). However, the recent news of Chartier reminds us that triathlon is not immune to doping and there isn't enough testing and education. And while some athletes will intentionally cheat, many athletes are unaware of what is considered "banned" by WADA or believe that if they won't be tested, it doesn't matter what they do outside (or during) sport.  Doping describes the act of using a banned substance to drastically alter...