December 29, 2009

Old Tour De France Drugs

Before EPO and amphetamines there were these gems

info taken from A Synthetic Environment blog

Ethanol
Ethanol was used to obtain a fuddled state and relief pain.

The Algerian Abdel-Kader Zaaf drank two bottles of wine in the tour of 1950. He fell asleep under a tree. When he woke up he got on his bike again but proceeded to ride the wrong way on the course.
zaaf_1950[1]

Chloroform
Used to fight pain. Henri Pelissier admitted the use of chloroform (and cocaine) after the tour of 1924.
pelissier[1]

Strychnine
A powerful and deadly stimulant. This highly toxic alkaloid was injected. A large dose was not recommended.

Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin capsules were taken to increase the heart rate and open the airways. Bumpy rides were not recommended.

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