Quote Originally Posted by Wheeze View Post
I inject patients with triamcinolone on a daily basis for a variety of soft tissue and joint problems. I have to warn them of the potential side effects. Weight loss and euphoria are not among them. 9 injections in 4 years seems perfectly within reason for a high performance athlete who may be troubled by joint or soft tissue problems or as an alternative to antihistamines that may cause drowsiness when used to treat asthma/hayfever. If an appropriate TUE was in place then that is above board.
Did the team doctor give evidence to this kangaroo court??
" 2.0 Criteria for Granting a TUE
An Athlete may be granted a TUE if (and only if) he/she can show, by a balance of
probability, that each of the following conditions is met:
a. The Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method in question is needed to treat an acute or chronic medical condition, such that the Athlete would experience a significant impairment to health if the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method were to be withheld (ISTUE Article 4.1(a)).
b. The Therapeutic Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is highly unlikely to produce any additional enhancement of performance beyond what might be anticipated by a return to the Athlete’s normal state of health following the treatment of the acute or chronic medical condition (ISTUE Article 4.1(b)).
Although there may be some enhancement of individual performance as a result of the efficacy of the treatment, nevertheless, such enhancement must not exceed the level of performance of the Athlete prior to the onset of his/her medical condition.
c. There is no reasonable Therapeutic alternative to the Use of the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method (ISTUE Article 4.1(c))."

b is the really important point - and how beneficial triamcinolone is is moot.

I doubt your patients have significant muscle oedema and inflammation from training - as to psychological changes I agree there is no need to warn them "this may make you feel a lot better".