Is there an incentive to claim this falsely in order to get around doping regulations? The below mentions inhaled steroids are permitted. I'm curious if that could be used to cover larger ingested doses or be useful enough just in inhaled forms to be worthwhile.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933613/

While the Code permits the use of inhaled glucocorticoids without restriction, oral and intravenous glucocorticoids are prohibited, although a mechanism exists that allows them to be administered for acute severe asthma.

Sure thing Ventolin is a performance enhancer for athletes, even for people like me who really do have asthma.

When was the last time the Olympics was in a location that didn't have air pollution?

Hahahah, what a load of horseshit.

I had asthma as a child, and let me tell you, you can't do anything with asthma. It's like being allergic to the atmosphere -- basic exercise can trigger an attack and leave you useless and wheezing. Your cardiovascular capacity is shot.

Reading that these Olympians got gold medals while simultaneously having asthma is like hearing the champions at the shooting tournament were all blackout drunk.

Albuterol and other bronchodilators absolutely do increase your VO²Max if abused or taken by a non-athsmatic. Not in the lower ranges of respiratory function but in the 80-100% of VO²Max where elite athletes operate.

I don't dispute the doctor's claims that there are some cold weather sports with dry air that can mimick the symptoms of asthma, but an asthmatic Olympian/athlete beating someone without asthma (a debilitating respiratory illness) and taking the gold?

I'm calling bullshit. They outsmarted the anti-doping regulations, clean and simple. Wheeze into this box and you can raise your VO²Max during the competition. Anything for a win.