Blood Doping

Blood Doping:
• infusion of blood to increase levels of red blood cells  erythrocythemia  increases oxygen carrying capacity of blood  increased endurance capacity
• typically, blood is removed from athlete 4 – 8 weeks before sports event (stored via freezing)  blood levels return to normal  reinfused 1-7 days prior to event
• most recent studies show it works in endurance athletes
• risks  blood borne diseases (if use homologous transfusion rather than autologous); hypertension, congestive heart failure, stroke – but if precautions taken, it is assumed to be relatively safe
• use is banned by IOC, but detection is not possible