WADA’s reluctance to ban tramadol has come under the spotlight after a study showed that the powerful and highly-addictive painkiller boosted cycling performance during a 20 minute time trial.
The study, published by researchers at the University of Kent and the University of Granada, is yet to be peer reviewed and so must be fully validated. However the results suggest a five percent improvement in performance during the effort, with the 19 male and female riders showing a gain in average power. Those in the placebo group put out 209 watts, with those taking tramadol achieving 220 watts.
And while their rate of perceived exertion was the same, those in the tramadol group also achieved a higher average heart rate. Theirs was 166 bpm, versus 162 bpm in the other group.
Meanwhile a second experiment which combined physical exertion with a mental exercise dampened down the effects, with no significant difference being determined between the two groups. Completing the mental task appeared not to be negatively affected by tramadol use.
The anti-doping group MPCC has repeatedly called on WADA to ban the use of Tramadol. It recently blasted the anti-doping agency as ‘reckless’ when it refused calls to prohibit it and corticosteroids. Despite WADA dragging its heels, the new UCI president David Lappartient has said he wants to try to prevent either substance being used.
https://cyclingtips.com/news/study-suggests-tramadol-enhances-performance/
full report:
https://osf.io/preprints/sportrxiv/8hpxz
Tramadol effects on physical performance and sustained attention during a 20-min indoor cycling time-trial: A randomised controlled trial
Darias Holgado Nuñez Thomas Zandonai Mikel Zabala James Hopker Pandelis Perakakis Antonio Luque-Casado Luis Perez Eduardo Guerra Hernandez Daniel Sanabria
Created on: November 01, 2017 | Last edited: November 01, 2017
The study, published by researchers at the University of Kent and the University of Granada, is yet to be peer reviewed and so must be fully validated. However the results suggest a five percent improvement in performance during the effort, with the 19 male and female riders showing a gain in average power. Those in the placebo group put out 209 watts, with those taking tramadol achieving 220 watts.
And while their rate of perceived exertion was the same, those in the tramadol group also achieved a higher average heart rate. Theirs was 166 bpm, versus 162 bpm in the other group.
Meanwhile a second experiment which combined physical exertion with a mental exercise dampened down the effects, with no significant difference being determined between the two groups. Completing the mental task appeared not to be negatively affected by tramadol use.
The anti-doping group MPCC has repeatedly called on WADA to ban the use of Tramadol. It recently blasted the anti-doping agency as ‘reckless’ when it refused calls to prohibit it and corticosteroids. Despite WADA dragging its heels, the new UCI president David Lappartient has said he wants to try to prevent either substance being used.
https://cyclingtips.com/news/study-suggests-tramadol-enhances-performance/
full report:
https://osf.io/preprints/sportrxiv/8hpxz
Tramadol effects on physical performance and sustained attention during a 20-min indoor cycling time-trial: A randomised controlled trial
Darias Holgado Nuñez Thomas Zandonai Mikel Zabala James Hopker Pandelis Perakakis Antonio Luque-Casado Luis Perez Eduardo Guerra Hernandez Daniel Sanabria
Created on: November 01, 2017 | Last edited: November 01, 2017