Breathless in Beijing: Olympics 2008

Asthma is prevalent in the summer sports as well, especially in swimmers (among them, Dara Torres), distance runners, and cyclists who can be affected by air pollution, especially fine and ultra fine particles, and by the drying effect of breathing rapidly for long periods of time. Pollen can make symptoms even worse for those who are allergic to it, which includes the majority of athletes with asthma.

Doping

Competitors must prove before the games that they have asthma in order to be allowed to take medications banned by international sports federations. There is a lot of paperwork involved in doing so, and they must have everything in place before arriving in Beijing.

According to the New York Times article, Asthma Medications: Not a Clear Advantage, "Elite-level athletes with documented proof that they have asthma are allowed to take certain inhaled corticosteroids, which prevent inflammation of airway and can hold asthma symptoms at bay. And they are allowed to take other inhaled drugs, beta-2 agonists, which relax the smooth muscle cells of airways, relieving symptoms."

In order to be banned, a drug has to meet two of three criteria. Taking it must:

• Enhance or potentially enhance performance
• Place an athlete's health at risk
• Violate the spirit of sport

In a person who does not have asthma, the drugs have no benefits, only the risk of side effects that can place an athlete's health at risk. An athlete taking substances in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage would then be violating the spirit of sport.

Air Quality

Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and in spite of a 120 billion yuan ($17.3 billion) clean-up over the last decade, air quality remains a big concern. Officials have pledged to cut the number of cars on the road during the August 8-24 Games. The Chinese government has said the air pollution will be reduced, but it also warned that the Olympics will be held during pollen season.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Greek Olympian Athanasia Tsoumeleka expressed concerns that the combination of pollution, humidity and heat will hamper performances at the Beijing games. Tsoumeleka, who won gold in Athens in the women's 20 km walk, said just competing in Beijing will be a daunting task and that performances across the board will be affected.

"I wish the event would be held somewhere else, to be honest," the 26-year-old Tsoumeleka told Reuters.

"As an athlete suffering from asthma I can feel the difference in air quality between Beijing and other less-polluted places. It eats up the athlete."

Two-time Olympic champion, Haile Gebrselassie, who has asthma, has already withdrawn from the men's marathon.

Asthma study to be conducted in Beijing

Many questions remain. Fortunately, a study will be conducted at these games that will hopefully provide answers and less concern and confusion in the future. Athletes from 10 European countries will take part in the research, announced on World Asthma Day by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network. The study is likely to involve hundreds of athletes and will allow scientists to specify the prevalence of asthma, exercise-induced asthma and other allergic diseases among European athletes.