title: Impact of ethnicity, gender, and dehydration on the urinary excretion of inhaled salbutamol with respect to doping control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of dehydration, ethnicity, and gender on urinary concentrations of salbutamol in relation to the threshold stipulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated measures open-label.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen male and 14 female athletes (9 white males, 9 white females, 2 Afro-Caribbean males, 2 Afro-Caribbean females, 6 Asian [Indian subcontinent] males, and 4 Asian females) were recruited. All participants were nonasthmatic.
  
  
  METHODS
  After inhalation of 800 μg or 1600 μg of salbutamol, athletes exercised in a hot controlled environment (35°C, 40% relative humidity) at a self-selected pace until a target weight loss (2% or 5%) was achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine concentration of free salbutamol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After inhalation of 1600 μg salbutamol, 20 participants presented with a urine salbutamol concentrations above the current WADA limit (1000 ng/mL) and decision limit (1200 ng/mL) resulting in an adverse analytical finding. There were no differences according to gender or ethnic origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dehydration equivalent to a body mass loss greater than 2% concomitant to the acute inhalation of 1600 μg of salbutamol may result in a urine concentration above the current WADA limit and decision limit leading to a positive test finding independent of gender or ethnic origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthmatic athletes using salbutamol should receive clear dosing advise and education to minimize the risk of inhaling doses of salbutamol that may produce urine concentrations of salbutamol above 1200 ng/mL.
authors: *Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom; †Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and ‡English Institute of Sport, Institute of Sport Exercise and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Dickinson
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Chester
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Loosemore
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Whyte
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*; D003681:Dehydration; D004300:Doping in Sports; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000420:Albuterol