Dr John Dickinson, a world-leading authority on respiratory problems in athletes, has been explaining why so many elite athletes have asthma following the leak of selected athletes’ medical records by Russian cyber hacking group the Fancy Bears.
To date, he has provided comment and insight for the Guardian, including Sean Ingle’s article What is a TUE? 11 key questions on the Fancy Bears Wada leaks, The Times, The Irish Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sun, BBC Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky News and Newsnight, amongst others (see In The Media section).
‘Dickinson is well placed to comment on the issue. A world renowned expert on asthma in sport and head of the respiratory clinic at Kent’s School of Sport and Exercise Science, he has written extensively on TUEs. Currently part of the team responsible for testing and diagnosing Britain’s Olympic athletes for asthma, he argues that the furore over “unfair medication” is largely misguided.’ The Telegraph
Dr Dickinson has over 10 years’ experience of investigating issues such as asthma and dysfunctional breathing in athletes. The groups he has investigated include British Olympic athletes, Premier League Football Players, Premiership Rugby Union Players and Super League Rugby Union Players.Dr Dickinson has published extensively in the area of exercise induced asthma and has given key note presentations nationally and internationally on the subject.
His work has been cited in contemporary consensus statements examining asthma in athletes (Fitch et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;122:254-260; Carlsen et al. Allergy 2008 ;63:387-403; Anderson et al. Eur Respir Mon, 2005 ;33 :48-66).
He has received funding from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate the ergogenic and pharmokinetic properties of inhaled β2-Agonists (asthma medication).
He is a member of the Enduarance Research Group and the Sports Therapy, Physical Activity and Health Research Group in the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences.
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