Doping

Where did you come across this? As a beta 2 agonist, how would it mask any of the obvious candidates: EPO, steroids, HGH etc.

My understanding is that diuretics are the normal masking agents. I’m sure there are others though, is Salbutamol one?

What am I missing?

"will be considered as an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) unless the Athlete proves, through a controlled pharmacokinetic study, that the abnormal result was the consequence of the use of the therapeutic dose (by inhalation) up to the maximum dose indicated above."

Well this is where they're going to have to prove that Froome processes this shit in such a way that even if given legal doses he excretes over the limit in tests.

It's science. We gain knowledge over time. The system improves as the knowledge of athlete reactions to drugs improves. It's not perfect but it's improving.

A quick google of ‘salbutamol as masking agent’ returned discussion on a skiing forum amongst others.

S3. Beta-2 Agonists:

Salbutamol Inhalers (aka Albuterol or marketed as Ventolin)
• Commonly used to treat asthma. Previously, an inhaled dosage of no greater than 1600 micrograms was permitted over 24 hours. However, it was never the intention that this meant that athletes could inhale 1600 micrograms in one go or over a few hours
• Dosing parameters of inhaled salbutamol have been amended to reflect that athletes are allowed a maximum of 1600 micrograms over 24 hours, but not to exceed 800 micrograms every 12 hours
• Salbutamol inhalers commonly dispense either 100 or 200 micrograms per puff/inhalation, this relates to an allowance of either 8 or 4 inhalations respectively per 12-hour period
• Dose per inhalation can vary between inhalers, therefore athletes should ask their doctor or check the patient information leaflet which accompanies their prescribed inhaler to establish the dose administered in each inhalation
• If an athlete requires more than 800 micrograms in a 12-hour period they should consult their doctor and contact UKAD to determine if they need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

This is a useful article;

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/the-truth-about-cycling-and-asthma-317941?utm_content=manual&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=cyclingweekly#iJT0u4bbuMVFWtCx.99

As I understand it, it is more nuanced:
There is a maximum permitted dose which an athlete may not exceed. To test for this, they have applied a maximum concentration limit in tested urine. However, if that concentration is exceeded in the urine it will not be a "fail" if they can demonstrate that the concentration was achieved while still taking no more than the maximum dose.

I also have no idea if being double over the limit is feasible, but many have pointed to some major misgivings about how accurately you can predict how salbutamol makes its way into urine.

Nibali - also asthmatic - says

"will be considered as an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) unless the Athlete proves, through a controlled pharmacokinetic study, that the abnormal result was the consequence of the use of the therapeutic dose (by inhalation) up to the maximum dose indicated above."

"Nobody could give me the thrill of hanging onto a car like that again..."

Ok, that's interesting, thanks. So its kind of a proxy test where they're trying to test for dosage size via urine concentration.

I feel thats not a sufficiently explicit test now it's spelled out to me, although @hippy suggests that it's on Froome to prove this (which I assume is very difficult and fraught with loopholes, as you could argue, legitimately, you're not able to replicate his metabolic state as it was part way through a tour, suffering from illness).

Let's be patient, I'm sure all our questions will be answered in a jiffy

Reeeeee

All the sudden I'm the only guy recycling the small amount of good #content he has? Harsh

Where's this from, got a link?
Edit found cycling weekly

It only came out today because both Le Monde and The Guardian were set to publish stories on it.

I'm surprised it wasn't leaked earlier like every other AAF.

I wonder if the way/speed with which Froome processes Salbutamol could be affected by the fact he was toiling up mountains day after day at the time of the finding? Compared to huffing the stuff and sitting on the sofa or whatever.

Yes, likely but to what extent, I don't know.

This is the kind of thing some labcoats are going to have to work on to prove.

Not a doc but wouldn’t that make you process it faster if anything?

The only winners here will be the lawyers lab technicians.

Not necessarily. Look at digestion as an example of something that slows down when work rate increases.

Every day’s a school day.

https://twitter.com/JeroenSwart/status/940866373584027653