The truth about cycling and asthma

The use of asthma medication by professional cyclists is a controversial one, thrust into the limelight again as Chris Froome was found to have higher-than-permitted levels of salbutamol in a sample taken during the 2017 Vuelta a España. David Bradford hunts for the truth about the prevalence, effects and treatment of asthma among cyclists

With the news that Chris Froome returned an adverse analytical finding for salbutamol at the 2017 Vuelta a España, the spotlight has once again fallen on the use of asthma medication in professional cycling.

Earlier in 2017, British Cycling, Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins came under scrutiny over the use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) in relation to asthma medication after they were leaked by hacking group Fancy Bears.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

David Bradford
Features editor

David Bradford is features editor of Cycling Weekly (print edition). He has been writing and editing professionally for more than 15 years, and has published work in national newspapers and magazines including the Independent, the Guardian, the Times, the Irish Times, Vice.com and Runner’s World. Alongside his love of cycling, David is a long-distance runner with a marathon PB of two hours 28 minutes. Having been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in 2006, he also writes about sight loss and hosts the podcast Ways of Not Seeing.