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> Since when is prednisone a performance enhancing drug?

Don't you know what corticosteroids do? Really?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805102 "CONCLUSION: From these data, short-term Pred intake did seem to significantly improve performance during submaximal exercise, with concomitant alterations in hormonal and metabolic responses. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of these hormonal and metabolic changes, and to determine whether the changes may be associated with the marked performance improvement obtained."

Alcohol is illegal during competition and the first doping suspension was for sneaking brandy during the 1904 marathon

But meldonium is exactly what you describe, it was in use since 80ties.

Prednisone does stimulate the adrenal gland, which is why they have you taper off it. I don't know what sort of effect it might have on performance. (I have taken it to clear up bad rashes, with edema, from poison ivy.)