What is the rule with TDF riders and pain killers?

[Dimtick]

I jsut wondering what the rule is with TDF riders and pain killers. I've heard that riders in the TDF are not allowed to take any pain killers, even asprin.
What if the rider is taken to the hospital? In a case like Hoogerland who receieved 30+ stiches from hitting a barb wire fence, please tell me that doctors can give him something and his doesn't have to suffer while being stiched up?

Sorry if this has been discussed before. If it has, if someone could give me a link to the other discussion.

 

[Cobblestones]

I jsut wondering what the rule is with TDF riders and pain killers. I've heard that riders in the TDF are not allowed to take any pain killers, even asprin.
What if the rider is taken to the hospital? In a case like Hoogerland who receieved 30+ stiches from hitting a barb wire fence, please tell me that doctors can give him something and his doesn't have to suffer while being stiched up?

Sorry if this has been discussed before. If it has, if someone could give me a link to the other discussion.

That's why there's TUEs. Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

 

[Dimtick]

I guess that is my question. What are TUE's and when can they be used?

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I guess that is my question. What are TUE's and when can they be used?

Most of your questions are covered in the "Questions & Answers on Athletes and Medications" section of the WADA website.

Not all pain killers etc are part of the Prohibited list and in cases of getting medical treatment TUE's are able to be sought

 

[zwiebel2004]

Most narcotic pain killers are banned by WADA (oxycodone, morphine, etc). I doubt that WADA would be willing to grant a TUE for a narcotic during a competition, most likely taking a hard line that "if an injury sustained in a race requires a narcotic, then most likely the rider should not be racing in the first place"

Disturbingly enough Hydrocodone is not listed on WADAs list of banned substances nor is it listed as a banned substance when checking the global drug research online website (globaldro.com), yet it metabolizes into hydromorphone which is a banned substance. I wonder if any athletes have ever had any issues with this after looking on a WADA approved list/website

From what I have gathered from talking to some doctors who deal with TdF riders, the main pain killer used during competition is Tramadol (a centrally acting opioid analgesic. Not a true opiate, but it responds very similarly). Tramadol is given after crashes or even to dull the leg soreness of riders in the later days of Grand Tours by giving them 100 mg extended release tabs.

Tramadol is not banned but I know its use in the peloton is relatively wide spread to help dull the sense of exertion. Tramadol also gives a boost in mood and energy because of its serotonergic/noradrenergic effects.

 

[isayic]

Most narcotic pain killers are banned by WADA (oxycodone, morphine, etc). I doubt that WADA would be willing to grant a TUE for a narcotic during a competition, most likely taking a hard line that "if an injury sustained in a race requires a narcotic, then most likely the rider should not be racing in the first place"

Disturbingly enough Hydrocodone is not listed on WADAs list of banned substances nor is it listed as a banned substance when checking the global drug research online website (globaldro.com), yet it metabolizes into hydromorphone which is a banned substance. I wonder if any athletes have ever had any issues with this after looking on a WADA approved list/website

From what I have gathered from talking to some doctors who deal with TdF riders, the main pain killer used during competition is Tramadol (a centrally acting opioid analgesic. Not a true opiate, but it responds very similarly). Tramadol is given after crashes or even to dull the leg soreness of riders in the later days of Grand Tours by giving them 100 mg extended release tabs.

Tramadol is not banned but I know its use in the peloton is relatively wide spread to help dull the sense of exertion. Tramadol also gives a boost in mood and energy because of its serotonergic/noradrenergic effects.

I got Tramadol after being hit by a car. It kills pain but has some side effects. I can make euphoric and a rider may overestimate his skills and if it's token too often it can cause an addiction.

 

[Velodude]

Here is Johnathon Vaughters personal accountof a 2001 TdF "injury" that could not be medically remedied under the anti-doping rules:

The previous afternoon, while out on a leisurely ride with his teammates during the rest day in Pau, a wasp had become entrapped in his sunglasses and stung him in the eye. Vaughters was allergic to wasp stings and by the time he had returned to the team hotel, his eye was the size of a golf ball. The pain was only beginning.

“The only thing that’s going to reduce that swelling is a cortisone injection which, as you know, is proscribed,” the team doctor announced. “Take it and you’ll test positive.”

Vaughters was distraught. “But that’s ridiculous . . . I can’t see! I can’t ride my bike! How will I finish the race?”
“I’m sorry Jonathan,” the doctor replied. “I can give you the injection but you will have to abandon the race. There are no exemptions for allergies. We have to do this by the book.”

“I understand,” Vaughters conceded, “but I’m not going to abandon. We’ll see how it is in the morning.”

<snip>

His Tour was effectively over but as a gesture to highlight the absurdity of the doping laws he had decided to sign-on as normal, line-up for the start, and climb off his bike as soon as the flag dropped.

The story continues. I am a loss to identify this contemptible person who crossed his path

As he made his way to the start line, aching with disappointment, he crossed the path of a chap he describes as “a famous rider”. Most of the other racers had greeted him with sympathy that morning but this particular rider didn’t do sympathy. No, his speciality was contempt.

“Poor Jonathan and his stupid little team,” he spat. “What the f*** are you like? If you were on my team this would have been taken care of, but now you are not going to finish the Tour de France because of a wasp sting.”
Vaughters was gutted.

“I thought, ‘F***! Here I am, on this team that is really trying to stick by the books and this guy is making fun of us for playing by the rules’,”

How would you cover up an AAF for cortisone? The UCI already have a Sysmex blood analyser on back order

 

[Polish]

Here is Johnathon Vaughters
The story continues. I am a loss to identify this contemptible person who crossed his path

Maybe that "contemptible person" was the rider who finished right behind JV on Mont Ventoux in 1999's Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré ?

 

[Velodude]

Maybe that "contemptible person" was the rider who finished right behind JV on Mont Ventoux in 1999's Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré ?

Wrong. The rider you are offering as a distraction lives a monastic existence and does not swear

 

[El Pistolero]

Wrong. The rider you are offering as a distraction lives a monastic existence and does not swear

David Millar then? Although he can't have been too famous back then.

Or someone else who uses language like that: the dude that was a bit behind

 

[patrick767]

From what I have gathered from talking to some doctors who deal with TdF riders, the main pain killer used during competition is Tramadol (a centrally acting opioid analgesic. Not a true opiate, but it responds very similarly). Tramadol is given after crashes or even to dull the leg soreness of riders in the later days of Grand Tours by giving them 100 mg extended release tabs.

Tramadol is not banned but I know its use in the peloton is relatively wide spread to help dull the sense of exertion. Tramadol also gives a boost in mood and energy because of its serotonergic/noradrenergic effects.

That's interesting and a bit surprising to me that Tramadol is allowed for regular use and not just a TUE. Here in the States it's a prescription only pain killer and is certainly stronger than our over the counter choices (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.). In efficacy typical dosages are about on the level of codeine and it's used in similar situations, though in my limited experience it's less likely to cause drowsiness.

 

[brianf7]

The teams and TDF spend big $$$ on drugs that are not banned some are very strong and only available to people with money to buy them.

If any rider is in hospital then the no needle rule is out of the window how would you put stiches in without one you will need at least two one for anestetic and one for the thread.
They may have used gas
just hiting him on the head with a big hammer wont work

 

[patrick767]

They may have used gas
just hiting him on the head with a big hammer wont work

Whisky. Lots of whisky.

 

[Swabian Lass]

That's interesting and a bit surprising to me that Tramadol is allowed for regular use and not just a TUE. Here in the States it's a prescription only pain killer and is certainly stronger than our over the counter choices (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.). In efficacy typical dosages are about on the level of codeine and it's used in similar situations, though in my limited experience it's less likely to cause drowsiness.

I think that Tramadol is is also prescription only in most European countries, presumably the powers that be accept that you're going to need something a bit stronger than paracetamol to complete a GT.

 

[uspostal]

Acupuncture

I was wondering why Acupuncture was used on Alberto's knee when the no needle rule was put in before this race. Was th rule for a certian dia. of needle or was it all of them.

 

[Polish]

I was wondering why Acupuncture was used on Alberto's knee when the no needle rule was put in before this race. Was th rule for a certian dia. of needle or was it all of them.

Using needles to INJECT recovery aids such as "iron" is strictly forbidden.
Using needles to PUNCTURE yourself for recovery is legal.

Although is it possible to micro dose using puncture needles?

 

[usedtobefast]

beer and tramadol

 

[del1962]

Wada says widespread use of Tramadol in peleton

The MPCC has gotten behind my request to ask WADA to fast track it from the Monitor List to the banned list.

 

[pmcg76]

Didn't Taylor Phinney talk about the widespread use of painkillers late last year. Think it was on velonation or maybe velonews.

 

[Netserk]

Didn't Taylor Phinney talk about the widespread use of painkillers late last year. Think it was on velonation or maybe velonews.

Here's the interview.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...etting-the-pill-culture-out-of-the-sport.aspx

 

[del1962]

Allan Farrell wan't Tramadol to require a TUE

Farrell believes that riders prescribed Tramadol in the future via a TUE should not be in competition. Such a move would put Tramadol within the same bracket at cortico-steroids with riders in MPCC teams expected not to race for an eight-day window after taking the substance.

“If you need to apply for a TUE medication used as a pain killer, the reality is that someone should be removed from competition. I don’t think there should be a scenario where someone should compete with such a strong pain killer,” he said.

 

[martinvickers]

Allan Farrell wan't Tramadol to require a TUE

Underlying that answer is the fairly clear implication that Sky used it with Thomas; and not entirely to Farrell's pleasing...

 

[Cyivel]

Seems like as good a place as any to post this

https://twitter.com/jeremycwhittle/status/432213308910088192

@jeremycwhittle

In his book, Michael Barry describes Tramadol - currently legal - as being as performance-enhancing as any banned drug he had taken.

 

[bangnz]

A Kiwi cyclist has admitted to using pain pills to aid his performance - and says he knows other riders who are doing the same.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8801359/Top-cyclist-tells-how-painkillers-give-him-edge

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Seems like as good a place as any to post this

https://twitter.com/jeremycwhittle/status/432213308910088192

Love these books. Drip, drip, drip.

Pills, patches and injections. No wonder every team needs 4-6 doctors.