Use of acetaminophen in young subelite athletes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present investigation was to look for other drugs besides doping substances in the urine of subelite athletes submitted to heavy training.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-one young subelite athletes (in sprint, cycling, middle distance running and handball) were included in the study, with a control group of 89 high school pupils. Drugs were researched by high performance liquid chromatography using a diode array detector.


RESULTS
Among the 212 subjects who agreed to give a urine sample, acetaminophen was detected: 9.5% for the subelite athletes versus 1.3% for the control group with a greater difference for sprint and cycling training (26.7% and 20%, respectively). Acetaminophen is used to treat both acute and chronic pains. It relieves pain by elevating the pain threshold.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of acetaminophen has to be taken into account by medical staff, trainers and educators.
Garcin
M
M
Laboratory of Study of Human Motricity EA 3608, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Lille 2, Ronchin, France.
Mille-Hamard
L
L
Billat
V
V
Imbenotte
M
M
Humbert
L
L
Lhermitte
Z
Z
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine*; D001642:Bicycling; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D012420:Running; D012651:Self Medication; D013177:Sports; D016482:Urinalysis
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen