[CityofBrotherlyShove]

I found an interesting article in The Washington Times about how Nationals closer Chad Cordero has had to stop using his asthma inhaler for the last two months since Albuterol is banned by the WBC. Cordero says that he's taking it easy during workouts, but has no plans of dropping out of the WBC.

"This is a huge deal to be able to play for your country," Cordero said. "That's why I've sacrificed taking the medicine that I need because being able to play for the USA is something you may never have a chance to do again."

This seems like something that needs to be reexamined by the WBC powers that be. Asthma isn't something that goes away when ignored, and for Cordero to be running and playing withoutout the use of an inhaler is potentially pretty dangerous.

link

Thoughts?

[GigEmAgs]

This is a stupid rule, plain and simple. It's just another overreaction to drugs. Why can't they try to differentiate between illegal drugs and legal ones? How many people would be locked out of sports if asthma medications were banned? Cordero in baseball, Jerome Bettis in football (well, if he were still playing), and who knows who else. First the skeleton racer got kicked out of the Olympics for using finasteride -- Rogaine, for goodness sake -- and now this. Meanwhile, Ricky Williams racks up his fourth failed drug test for stuff that's really illegal, and it barely makes a splash in the news. Sheesh.

[Lefty Noob]

This is crazy. Yes, albuterol is considered a beta-agonist and thus anabolic. But according to the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants [http://www.jaapa.com/issues/j2004120...rform1204.html] they are only banned in most competitions unless there is medical evidence that it is required, which there certainly would be in Cordero's case. Jackie Joyner Kersee is the most famous Olympian I can think of who as asthmatic. Does anyone know if she was allowed to use medication during competition?

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Here's a link that talks about asthma in sports. There's also a few paragraphs on Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Along with it is a picture of her using an inhaler immediately after a competition. You'll have to scroll down a little.

http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/A-As/Asthma.html

[Lefty Noob]

Great, thanks, MDR!

So, if the Olympics will allow it with their strict policies, then why won't the WBC? Ridiculous!

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Sadly, the reason the WBC won't allow albuterol asthma inhalers is from reasons stemming from two different problems. Firstly, the lack of sufficient testing in steroids and performance enhancing drugs. Secondly, the whole MLB problem with steroids. More the second than the first.

Drug testing is become better, but there are still many drugs that go untested out there. If someone forms a law, or creates a product to end the use or abuse of something, someone will find away around it.

But, you still can't distinguish between albuterol from an inhaler, and albuterol from steroid usage in a drug test.

Now, anyone who's seen Chad Cordero could easily tesitfy this guy's never used steroids. You could even observe him using his inhaler on the bench. But, because of the sour tatse that steroids have left in the MLB, the WBC doesn't want anything to do with it, and it doesn't want any tarnishing to happen in its first year.

It's sad that this guy is risking his life for America, and he's not even carrying a gun.

[Lefty Noob]

Exactly, but it would be nice if they looked at things case-by-case instead of a blanket ban. I'm certain Cordero could easily get mountains of medical history and doctor referrals that prove his case, but it sounds like he's just not going to fight it. Let's just hope nothing bad happens to him.