An in-line skate having a sports shoe connected to a frame supporting a plurality of in-line wheels. The buffer tube covering is comprised of a blend of at least 40% by weight of a copolyether ester elastomer, at least 10% by weight of a rubbery modifier, and at least 10% by weight of an amorphous thermoplastic polymer, and has a melting point of at least 165\xb0 C. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent.