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Tramadol Analgesic ID 96
Tramadol is a synthetic opioid painkiller. It has been generally available since the late nineties and it normally requires a prescription.
In addition to a high level of pain relief, Tramadol can increase serotonin and noradrenaline levels, which may confer a feeling of wellbeing on the user.
Tramadol may help an athlete to tolerate a pain-inducing effort but, as well as headaches, nausea and fatigue, the side effects of the medication also include long-term dependency, dizziness and vertigo, which may impair the same athlete's ability to function effectively during competition.
The Union Cycliste Internationale took reports of Tramadol abuse within the sport seriously and in 2016 lobbied WADA to change the drug's status. Tramadol has been part of WADA's monitoring programme since 2012 but no indication has yet been given that it is likely to be prohibited.
In the face of WADA's continued inaction, the UCI eventually took the unusual step of specifically prohibiting the substance from in-competition use in professional cycling starting from March 2019.
| Incidents 7 | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Baudin positive | Positive test | 24/05/2023 |
| Kononenko positive | Positive test | 18/09/2022 |
| Quintana positive 2 | Positive test | 13/07/2022 |
| Quintana positive 1 | Positive test | 08/07/2022 |
| Westra admission | Admission statement | 28/04/2018 |
| Edmondson admission | Admission statement | 16/03/2017 |
| Team Sky investigation | Investigation | 07/10/2016 |
| People 6 | Nationality |
|---|---|
| Barry Michael |  |
| Baudin Alex |  |
| Edmondson Joshua |  |
| Kononenko Mykhaylo |  |
| Quintana Nairo |  |
| Westra Lieuwe |  |
Sources
- Authors of tramadol study say further tests needed before recommendations can be made, CyclingTips, accessed 13/11/2017
- It’s time to finally ban tramadol in cycling: A pharmacist’s view, CyclingTips, accessed 22/03/2018
- Tramadol (definition), Wikipedia, accessed 24/04/2018
- Tramadol: UCI bans painkiller in competition from March, BBC Sport, accessed 16/01/2019
