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Anti Doping Reminder

8 March 2010


The World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) has reintroduced pseudoephedrine to the Prohibited List effective from January 1, 2010.

Pseudoephedrine is found in many over the counter medicines used as cough and cold remedies, hayfever and decongestant treatments.

Advice to Competitors


Stop taking any products containing pseudoephedrine at least 24 hrs before competition.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the use of alternative permitted medications for the therapeutic use during in-competition periods (if there is no suitable alternative available you must go to your GP and apply for a TUE for the use of pseudoephedrine)

Competitors can easily check out if over the counter medications bought in the Republic of Ireland are prohibited or permitted in sport by checking the ‘Drugs in Sport Database’ www.eirpharm.com. Medications bought in Northern Ireland should be checked on www.globaldro.com

If you check www.eirpham.com you will see that a high proportion of cold and flu treatments contain pseudoephedrine e.g. Benylin Four Flu, Day Nurse, Nurofen Cold and Flu. Pseudoephedrine is also found in some cough treatments e.g. Robitussin Plus, Benylin Dual Action Chesty. The cough and decongestant medication Casacol is also prohibited in competition