From Velonews (http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/12491.0.html):

Patacchi's Salbutamol use questioned

After winning five stages in this year's Giro d'Italia, Alessandro Petacchi is facing questions on his use of the bronchodilator Salbutamol.

Salbutamol is widely used by cyclists, many of whom have therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for problems related to exercise-induced asthma. The drug is often delivered via an inhaler to provide quick relief of bronchospasms and other asthma symptoms.

The drug can be injected and some studies have also shown that use of the drug can accelerate fat loss in a weight control program. Riders with a TUE for the drug are monitored to ensure that use is limited to common therapeutic doses.

Petacchi tested positive for Salbutamol during the Giro and Italy's Olympic Committee has been asked by the UCI to investigate whether the sprinter's use was appropriate.

So because you can actually breath - you can perform exercise, and therefore lose weight?

Or was the weight loss control group sedintery?


From Velonews (http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/12491.0.html):

Patacchi's Salbutamol use questioned

After winning five stages in this year's Giro d'Italia, Alessandro Petacchi is facing questions on his use of the bronchodilator Salbutamol.

Salbutamol is widely used by cyclists, many of whom have therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for problems related to exercise-induced asthma. The drug is often delivered via an inhaler to provide quick relief of bronchospasms and other asthma symptoms.

The drug can be injected and some studies have also shown that use of the drug can accelerate fat loss in a weight control program. Riders with a TUE for the drug are monitored to ensure that use is limited to common therapeutic doses.

Petacchi tested positive for Salbutamol during the Giro and Italy's Olympic Committee has been asked by the UCI to investigate whether the sprinter's use was appropriate.

Or was the weight loss control group sedintery?

From what I've read one of it's actions is to increase fat/protein burning. Riders are probably taking it for similar reasons they take the corticosteroids. Spare glycogen by shifting energy substrate to fats and protein.

Sounds to me like the Aktins Diet accelerated.