The Belle Velo

If you’ve been living anywhere other than under a rock you’ll know by now that the 2010Tour De France Champion Alberto Contador (Spain) has tested positive to traces of the banned steroid β2-agonist* Clenbuterol.

*Correction as per lanceandmatilda (thanks!)

“Clenbuterol is not a steroid. As you correctly describe it is a “sympathomimetic amine”, better known as a β2-agonist. It may indeed have ‘anabolic’ effects, but this does not make it a steroid”

Clenbuterol (Spiropent, Ventipulmin) is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. It is most commonly available as the hydrochloride salt clenbuterol hydrochloride.

Read on!