Tramadol ···

[benb]

Just saw Tramadol mentioned in this interview as a safety issue (I assume due to the whole "do not operate a motor vehicle on opiods thing):

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/12/news/prudhomme-reducing-riders-will-open-up-the-race_390441

I guess I just hadn't been paying attention as their has clearly been plenty of talk about it over the last few years but wow... is there anything these guys won't try?:(

[redir]

I wouldn't think that opiates would be performance enhancing.

[biker72]

My wife used to take this for arthritis relief.

[benb]

Yah they're just trying to mask pain, perhaps for lengthy periods.. in the end there is a risk the rider is getting addicted and also not thinking clearly in the peloton. They also mention that it could help with performance by letting them train harder.

Jens Voigt gives a good overview here: (edit, don't think that is actually Jens website)

http://shutup-legs.com/2014/04/29/the-grey-zone-for-doping-in-cycling-tramadola-drug-banned-in-horses/

He mentions they're getting in their "finisher bottle" at the end of the race with caffeine which sure sounds like abuse.

[numbskull]

Tramadol is not an opiate. It is a non-narcotic painkiller. Blah, blah, blah.

EDIT: My bad. I mistook the original post to be describing Toradol not Tramadol.

Here is some info on Tramadol;

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a695011.html

[benb]

Most medical sites and wikipedia seem to claim it is an Opioid, but then does it matter given what it does?

[redir]

Oh yes that's right I was thinking Demerol. I was prescribed Tramadol as Ultracet a few years ago for a bike crash and I remember the doctor saying it was not a narcotic. And actually it worked way better for me then any opiate drugs I had used in the past. So in the future I plan on asking for that if it becomes necessary again.

[AJM100]

synthetic opioid

[Hermes_Alex]

To change the subject somewhat, I'm 1000% in favor of smaller teams as mentioned in the article - a fantastic idea, the next best thing to a universal ban on race radio.

[benb]

To change the subject somewhat, I'm 1000% in favor of smaller teams as mentioned in the article - a fantastic idea, the next best thing to a universal ban on race radio.

Yep... sounds like both would be good.