Tram tracked
Debate on painkiller reignited
To add to Team Sky’s recent woes, former rider Michael Barry claimed in promotion of his book Shadows on the Road (see page38) that he had used the legal but controversial painkiller tramadol during his time on the team (20102012). He told The Times newspaper that the drug made him feel “euphoric, but it’s also hard to focus.”
Tramadol, an opiate pain reliever, isn’t prohibited but has been monitored by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) since 2012. Concerns over its side effects have seen the MPCC (Movement for Credible Cycling) call on WADA to ban it. Late last year the voluntary organisation, which includes 11 of the 18 ProTeams (Sky aren’t one), called on doctors from those teams to stop using the drug in competition. While not denying Barry’s claims, Sky reiterated its stance of the past two seasons: that its doctors no longer prescribe the drug, either in racing or training. “We feel that if a rider has the level of severe pain for its appropriate use, they should not be riding,” their spokesperson said. “Our view is that it should be on the WADA list and any appropriate clinical use could be managed through the regulated TUE (therapeutic use exemption).”
While the number of samples containing tramadol is significant and a “very large majority” originate from cyclists, WADA’s List Expert Group, who advise them in regards to its banned list, will continue to do so through 2014 before its status is reviewed.
“We feel that if a rider has th e level of severe pa in for its ap ropriat e use, th ey should not be riding or training” – Team sky