is this a performance enhancing drug?

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. Not to cast aspersions on anyone - don't believe everything you are told!

And to be honest, I can't see why it is for an elite athlete either. I can see the financial side, but where's the glory?Yes, when I was referring to incentives for pro athletes, I was thinking money alone.

I have had asthma since I was a kid. Swimming eliminated most of it. I still have an occasional attack and sometimes have exercise induced asthma. I still keep a rescue inhaler around just in case. Maybe I have not had access to the good stuff – or maybe using an inhaler only when you need it eliminates the benefit - but I have never felt any kind of benefit from using an inhaler.

Not to cast aspersions on anyone - don't believe everything you are told! I don't believe everything I'm told, but when the source is Phil Whitten, perhaps the most knowlegeable person in the world on swimming and ped's, I tend to trust the source. You may recall that, when Phil was the editor of Swimming World magazine, he was the first to publicly question the Chinese women re doping. He is currently writing a series of articles on ped's in masters swimming. One installment has already been published in Swimmer magazine and I believe the second installment will be specifically on asthma medications.

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? I'll go even further than that. The stakes are indeed low, so why should anyone else care? And in this particular case opinions about the potential benefits seem divided anyway. I get that many get an ego boost from winning and breaking records, but IMO taking PEDs is an action that carries its own punishment. I also get most don't want USMS events to be high-pressure affairs, and so behavior like that described can leave a sour taste for those who want a more relaxed atmosphere. Just ignore it; different people derive different motivation and enjoyment from these events. To the extent that it promotes a healthy and balanced lifestyle, it's all good.

Asthma medications are all quite strong performance enhancers (especially if used over the long term). They are thought to change the body composition to be more muscle and less fat ... plus the immediate pre race benefits of expanding airways etc. Do people really think it is a coincidence that so many olympic athletes 'have asthma'??

I also get most don't want USMS events to be high-pressure affairs, and so behavior like that described can leave a sour taste for those who want a more relaxed atmosphere. Just ignore it; different people derive different motivation and enjoyment from these events. To the extent that it promotes a healthy and balanced lifestyle, it's all good. I agree

At our SCM meet this past weekend we had an out-of-state visitor swimming. . . . Any thoughts?. My thought is that using a "question" to start unkind rumors about someone is gross.

Asthma medications are all quite strong performance enhancers (especially if used over the long term). They are thought to change the body composition to be more muscle and less fat ... plus the immediate pre race benefits of expanding airways etc. Do people really think it is a coincidence that so many olympic athletes 'have asthma'?? 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.

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? No. And to be honest, I can't see why it is for an elite athlete either. I can see the financial side, but where's the glory?