RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effects of acute and two week intake of salbutamol on anaerobic power and capacity during repeated bouts of exercise in elite cyclists JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P854 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Morten Hostrup A1 Anders Kalsen A1 Jens Bangsbo A1 Vibeke Backer YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P854.abstract AB Rationale: Salbutamol, was of 2010 relieved from WADA's prohibited list needing a strict diagnosis of asthma, and can now be used more freely among athletes. Some studies have showed enhancing effects of oral salbutamol on anaerobic power in recreational men and women. However, no studies have investigated this in elite athletes. The aim of this study was to examine whether oral salbutamol, taken acutely and over a period of two weeks, increases anaerobic power during repeated Wingate tests in elite cyclists.Method: We enrolled 20 non-asthmatic elite cyclists (M), aged 25.8±4.4yrs, VO2max 68.6±5.8 ml/min/kg, and a training volume of 14.4±3.6 h/wk. The cyclists were randomized into either oral salbutamol 8 mg (SAL) or placebo (PLA) in a double-blinded parallel study. The protocol consisted of three 30-s Wingate tests separated by two minutes of recovery. The intervention consisted of study visits at baseline, after acute ingestion and after two week ingestion taken two-three hours prior to the cyclists' regular training.Results: Two week ingestion of salbutamol significantly increased peak power in the first (p<0.05) and second (p<0.001) Wingate, 894±48W and 885±51W versus 861±53W and 848±54W at baseline. Furthermore, the SAL-group had a significant higher mean peak power over 5s at both the first (p<0.05) and the second (p<0.05) Wingate, with 861±42W and 829±56W versus 809±58W and 795±59W at baseline. Acute ingestion of salbutamol didn't increase any parameter in the SAL-group. No differences were found in the PLA-group.Conclusions: Two week daily intake of salbutamol taken prior to training improves anaerobic power in elite cyclists.