Asthma No Penalty To Sporting Goals, UK

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 28 Feb 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Asthma UK Scotland has said the case of Scottish Rugby internationalist, Scott MacLeod, highlights that having asthma does not need to curtail sporting ambitions.

MacLeod, the 16-times-capped forward, has been cleared by an independent judicial committee to continue to play the game after he was found to have inadvertently taken a prohibited asthma medication without the required permission.

Terbutaline is on the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list unless, when administered by inhalation, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) has been obtained in advance.

Gordon Brown, Asthma UK Scotland's Public Affairs and Communications Manager, says: 'What Scott's case has done is show that if you learn to manage your asthma and take the correct medication, there's no reason why you shouldn't play sport at the highest possible level. Of course, not everyone has the same severity of asthma but the basic message remains the same; for most people, asthma should not stop you doing any type of exercise as long as you consult your doctor regularly, keep your asthma well controlled and take the correct medicine.'

Brown continues: 'We would also like to applaud the SRU for taking the decision to release Scott's name, as they were under no regulatory requirement to do so. Hopefully this will help underline the message to all other players that they need to have a valid TUE for their specific asthma medication.'

For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at http://www.asthma.org.uk/adviceline.

Asthma UK