is this a performance enhancing drug?

We also saw her taking frequent hits from a very large inhaler always just before her races as she was warming up and behind the blocks. Any thoughts?. I would think it was a fast-acting inhaler like Albuterol. I am not sure if that is a "legal" drug for competition; in addition to opening the airways, it can cause an increase in heartrate.

Definitely performance enhancing. I won't judge whether or not it is illegal by WADA standards. I think they may make some exceptions for diagnosed asthma. Interestingly, Phil Whitten told me that shortly after asthma inhalers were allowed with a medical diagnosis 100% of the British national team suddenly were diagnosed with having asthma. P.S. you are swimming lights out Sergey.

I know a lot of athletes feel otherwise (and maybe perception is the most important thing), but if you don't have airway reactivity, the effect of albuterol on lung function is pretty minimal. There is some work on oral albuterol and improved strength that is really focused on reversing the effects of immobility. You would never a high enough dose by inhaling it anyways. My opinion is that, if you don't have asthma, albuterol probably doesn't improve your athletic performance. The elevated heart rate and nervousness associated with the drug may make you feel like you are getting an enhancement but I doubt its a measurable one.

I remember a quote from Gary Hall Jr. saying Amy Van Dyken was puffing on her inhaler over and over at the Olympics ... far exceeding than the prescribed 2 puffs.

Seems like this is a legitimate question. Given the responses is appears that there is no policy on this issue or if so, it's not widely known. It would be good to have it clarified. I don't think the question was meant to start a rumor.

Interestingly, many swimmers have taken up the sport as children on the advice that it will help them manage their asthma. Let's not also forget that for some it is extremely debilitating. Joanne Jackson, who was a medallist in Beijing is just starting to get back to some kind of form after losing much of the last couple of years to asthma. If she wasn't an Olympic medallist she would have had to quit, as she has real difficulty training at all during the winter months and has to go abroad for warm weather. Except, it's usage is big in many sports not just swimming...

We also saw her taking frequent hits from a very large inhaler always just before her races as she was warming up and behind the blocks. Any thoughts?. A few years ago, chlorofluorocarbon-propellant albuterol inhalers were replaced by HFA-propellant inhalers (it was claimed this was for environmetal reasons, but reality is that there is patent protection on HFA Inhalers so no generics exist.). The new inhalers, in a word, suck. If I am having an airway obstruction I take 10 puffs if not more (which means, in addition to being more expensive, I have to buy them more often). So from personal experience, I wouldn't judge anyone who "over-medicates" on the new inhaler. They just dont work as well. I will add that all inhalers are the same size. It might have appeared larger because she was using a spacer (which makes the delivery of the medicine more effective).

Definitely performance enhancing. I won't judge whether or not it is illegal by WADA standards. I think they may make some exceptions for diagnosed asthma. Interestingly, Phil Whitten told me that shortly after asthma inhalers were allowed with a medical diagnosis 100% of the British national team suddenly were diagnosed with having asthma. I've heard that Ellen has "severe asthma." Perhaps the severity of the problem requires higher doses? I've also heard other swimmers complain about the entourage and drama surrounding her swims.

I've also heard other swimmers complain about the entourage and drama surrounding her swims. Hey, I want an entourage, too! :)

...as she has real difficulty training at all during the winter months and has to go abroad for warm weather.I, too, have real difficulty training during the cold winter months ... just haven't yet figured out how to afford to go abroad for warmer weather! As for the subject of people using PEDs in Masters sports, I go back to this fundamental question: why? What's the upside? I get the incentives for pro athletes to use PEDs, but I just can't understand what's in it for a Masters athlete who is competing at a Masters level. Is the glory of winning really worth it?