Effects of Salbutamol in Athletes and Implications for Screening and Sports
Physiological, Sensory and Ergogenic Effects of Salbutamol - Implications for Athletic Screening and β2 Agonist Use in Sport
University of British Columbia
64 participants
Oct 30, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
β2-Agonists, commonly used to treat asthma, have also been used by athletes to enhance performance, leading to their ban by the International Olympic Committee in 1972. Research has shown non-asthmatics receive no benefit from these drugs at therapeutic dosages; however, many elite athletes still use them, and asthmatic athletes often win more Olympic medals. In some non-asthmatics, β2-agonists may improve breathing limitations during high intensity exercise, which may improve performance. Therefore, we aim to examine if there is a select group of non-asthmatic individuals who experience breathing limitations that may receive benefit from β2-agonists.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) greater than 120% predicted
- Body mass index (BMI) \> 18 and \< 30 kg/m2
- Ability to read and understand English
- Currently training and/or competing in endurance sports (i.e. running or cycling)
Exclusion Criteria6
- Smoking history or currently smoking. Currently smoking is defined as regular use of cigarettes or cannabis at any point in the past year. History of smoking is defined as smoking more than 1 pack year for cigarettes or the equivalent in cannabis use measured as puffs per day / 200 (number of puffs in a pack of cigarettes).
- Use of cannabis within the past 30 days or has a smoking history of at least 1 pack year.
- Use of vaping devices or e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, or has used them more than 10 times in their lifetime.
- History or current symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease (excluding controlled asthma)
- Contraindications to exercise testing defined as anything that would prevent exercise under proper and safe conditions (e.g., a problem with the heart or lungs, muscle)
- Neuromuscular or musculoskeletal condition
Interventions
Meter-dose inhaler of salbutamol performed using large-volume spacer
Meter-dose inhaler of placebo performed using large-volume spacer
Locations(1)
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NCT07037511