beta blockers, migraines and figure skating

falen · #1 11-13-2009, 01:39 PM

I am still reading up on figure skating. I read the rulebook! Now I stumbled upon this. Figure skaters in olymics can't take beta blockers. Is that in all competitions too? We have a family history of migraines and I personally have been on beta blockers. The migraines have stopped after coutless tries of different meds. If DD follows my heredity, beta blockers may be her only relief. Does anyone know what the story is behind the ban of beta blockers?

Thanks

add. Beta blockers are certainly not steriodal. If anything they make you out of shape! Why would they be banned?

Skittl1321 · #2 11-13-2009, 03:02 PM

Beta blockers can also be used to treat anxiety- thus they are performance enhancing (remove nerves). I was prescribed them in middle school and high school for test and performance anxiety.

If you are in non-qualifying competitions and are taking them for a documented medical cause, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are in a qualifying competition, I would check with the organizers and make sure. There are some "banned" drugs that are allowed if certain medical conditions also exist.

falen · #3 11-13-2009, 06:41 PM

thanks good to know.

The migraines did not hit till puberty. and never left. I'll just have to wait and see in couple of years.

ibreakhearts66 · #4 11-13-2009, 06:46 PM

Was this a current rulebook? I don't think beta blockers are prohibited. I searched on the USADA website (the anti-doping agency) for propranolol (Inderal) and it is NOT prohibited. Here is the link.

The search tool on that website is very useful and it specific to individual sports. This is also what the US Figure Skating website links to from their doping control page.

Skittl1321 · #5 11-13-2009, 07:14 PM

The ISU website makes it appear that beta blockers are prohibited (unless the communication I found is outdated). But that would assume you are at a level where the ISU governs you- and if you're at that level you shouldn't take ANYTHING, even the most basic medicines, without double checking!

It might be outdated though (which would be good news for the OP) because the website linked to in the previous post doesn't list figure skating as one of the sports, and you'd think USFS would do what the ISU did.

Quote:

WADA Classification
Beta-Blockers (P2)
Unless otherwise specified, beta-blockers are prohibited In-Competition only, in the following sports.

• Aeronautic (FAI)
• Archery (FITA, IPC) (also prohibited Out-of-Competition)
• Automobile (FIA)
• Billiards and Snooker (WCBS)
• Bobsleigh (FIBT)
• Boules (CMSB, IPC bowls)
• Bridge (FMB)
• Curling (WCF)
• Golf (IGF)
• Gymnastics (FIG)
• Motorcycling (FIM)
• Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) for disciplines involving shooting
• Ninepin and Tenpin Bowling (FIQ)
• Powerboating (UIM)
• Sailing (ISAF) for match race helms only
• Shooting (ISSF, IPC) (also prohibited Out-of-Competition)
• Skiing/Snowboarding (FIS) in ski jumping, freestyle aerials/halfpipe and snowboard halfpipe/big air
• Wrestling (FILA)

Beta-blockers include, but are not limited to, the following:
Acebutolol, alprenolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, bunolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, esmolol, labetalol, levobunolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol.

And "In Competition only" would mean that an athlete can take them while training.

phoenix · #6 11-13-2009, 10:04 PM

I'm pretty sure there would be no drug testing until at least qualifying regionals (Juvenile), so you have a long, long, long time before you have to worry about it. No local competition is going to test the kids.

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