British Cycling This article is more than 7 years oldCoughing up the facts on Fluimucil, Team Sky’s Jiffy bag decongestant
This article is more than 7 years old Over-the-counter medicine is used to ‘get rid of sticky and thick mucus’According to the relevant regulator, it is currently unlicensed in the UK
The mystery package at the centre of a UK Anti-Doping investigation contained the decongestant Fluimucil, Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford has revealed. Here is a short overview of the drug and its status in the UK:
An over-the-counter decongestant described by makers as “an effective mucolytic which helps to get rid of sticky and thick mucus that is obstructing the airway, resulting in coughing”.
Contains the active ingredient N-acetylcysteine, which is one of the precursors of Glutathione (GSH).
Makers describe GSH as the body’s “master antioxidant” which helps prevent damage to cells.
Trade name Fluimucil typically refers to the oral version which comes as a lemon-flavoured effervescent tablet taken with water.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Fluimucil is unlicensed in the UK, but there have been licensed acetylcysteine tablets since July 2016. It costs €8 in France.
The regulatory body says an unlicensed medicine can be supplied in the UK as “specials”. These are products which have been specially manufactured for the treatment of an individual patient after being ordered by a doctor, dentist, nurse, independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber or supplementary prescriber.
From Fancy Bears to Fluimucil: a timeline of events
15 September Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome are among five British athletes whose medical records are leaked by cyber espionage group Fancy Bears, believed to be from Russia.
17 September Wiggins denies that the Belgian doctor Geert Leinders had any involvement in the decision to apply to use a banned steroid. Wiggins, who appeared on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show a few days later to protest his innocence, used triamcinolone, the same drug Lance Armstrong tested positive for at the 1999 Tour de France.
7 October UK Anti-Doping says it is examining an “allegation of wrongdoing within cycling”. The announcement comes as the Daily Mail alleges a package was delivered to Team Sky in France on 12 June 2011, and it reports Ukad is looking at what that contained.
28 October Damian Collins, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, announces British Cycling will be asked to explain the use of TUEs at a parliamentary hearing.
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