The ins and outs of a TUE: Let's just say that I don't want to be a headline on CN

[dcpdpayne]

After more than 15 years out of racing, 2011 was a pretty good cycling year for me. In 2011 I dropped more than 50lbs that had settled on my frame since I last towed the line for a frozen April Crit race in college. With newly rediscovered fitness and "good sensations" in my legs, I think that 2012 will see my return to the rough and tumble world of Cat 4 or (am I really that old now) Master's Racing here in the Midwest.

During my time away from racing the antidoping world has really changed the sport, and I want to make sure that I'm not the next masters rider who gets called a "D-bag" for testing positive for a banned substance.

Currently I take a mild medication to help limit what has been my life long lack of focus, but in playing around on USA Cycling's web site I found that it was banned for in competition use, without a TUE. I read the instructions on obtaining one, but they were about as clear as mud. SO:

1. Has anyone goes through the process of getting a TUE for a normal medication that they take?

2. How long was the process?

3. Does is cost anything (I'm a very poor public servant, but at least I have a job)

4. Is this paperwork that I need to carry with me to races?

5. Is this something that I even need to worry about racing cat 4 races in the midwest. Let's face it, I'm not going to nationals anytime soon. I'm just hoping to stay on the back of the field at this point.

Thanks for the help and Info.

 

[Cloxxki]

Good for you dropping those 50lbs!! You must feel awesome now.

And very smart to be prudent, even if you'll likely never be honored with a drug test.

I suggest you look at USADA's and WADA's sites. USA Cycling is building a rep to be pro-doping.
My national USADA equivalent provided forms and procedures.

My housedoc was clueless, gave me a wrong referral, etc. I decided to wait with active sports (during my allergic summer time) until my asthma inhaler got taken off The List. I need only 1/4 or 1/8 of the maximum allowed dosage without TUE.
If USADA is thorough, they're require a signature or even updated test from a specialist linked to the specific med you use.
Check them out, or just give them a ring.

 

[DirtyWorks]

USADA's web site search function is useless, it returned no results for the phrase 'theraputic use.'

Google saves the day:
Do you need a TUE?: http://www.usada.org/tue-determine/
Apply for a TUE: http://www.usada.org/tue-apply/
Frequently asked questions: http://www.usada.org/tue-faq/

I would be inconsistent if I didn't hijack the thread and suggest racing under any other federation than USAC. Giving them money only enables more of their bad behavior. It's USACDF leadership that continues to poison the amateur sport.

 

[dcpdpayne]

Thanks Cloxxki,

I checked USADA's site and found that for the lowly recreational racer (ie, not folks in the "testing pool", ie, 99.5% of us reading the forum) a TUE is not required for substances banned only "in competition." Thus you don't have to choose between breathing and racing and I won't have to choose between getting distracted and stacking it in a crit while looking at something shinny and filling out loads of red tape type paperwork.
Thanks for the help, and yeah, it feels pretty great to be lighter than I was in college.

 

[mountaindew]

After more than 15 years out of racing, 2011 was a pretty good cycling year for me. In 2011 I dropped more than 50lbs that had settled on my frame since I last towed the line for a frozen April Crit race in college. With newly rediscovered fitness and "good sensations" in my legs, I think that 2012 will see my return to the rough and tumble world of Cat 4 or (am I really that old now) Master's Racing here in the Midwest.

During my time away from racing the antidoping world has really changed the sport, and I want to make sure that I'm not the next masters rider who gets called a "D-bag" for testing positive for a banned substance.

Currently I take a mild medication to help limit what has been my life long lack of focus, but in playing around on USA Cycling's web site I found that it was banned for in competition use, without a TUE. I read the instructions on obtaining one, but they were about as clear as mud. SO:

1. Has anyone goes through the process of getting a TUE for a normal medication that they take?

2. How long was the process?

3. Does is cost anything (I'm a very poor public servant, but at least I have a job)

4. Is this paperwork that I need to carry with me to races?

5. Is this something that I even need to worry about racing cat 4 races in the midwest. Let's face it, I'm not going to nationals anytime soon. I'm just hoping to stay on the back of the field at this point.

Thanks for the help and Info.

1. yes
2. 2-4 months
3. no
4. yes
5. no