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Current markers of the Athlete Blood Passport do not flag microdose EPO doping
Ashenden, Michael Gough, Clare E. Garnham, Andrew Gore, Christopher J. Sharpe, Ken
Ashenden, Michael
Gough, Clare E.
Garnham, Andrew
Gore, Christopher J.
Sharpe, Ken
Abstract
The Athlete Blood Passport is the most recent tool adopted by anti-doping authorities to detect athletes using performance-enhancing drugs such as recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). This strategy relies on detecting abnormal variations in haematological variables caused by doping, against a background of biological and analytical variability. Ten subjects were given twice weekly intravenous injections of rhEPO for up to 12 weeks. Full blood counts were measured using a Sysmex XE-2100 automated haematology analyser, and total haemoglobin mass via a carbon monoxide rebreathing test. The sensitivity of the passport to flag abnormal deviations in blood values was evaluated using dedicated Athlete Blood Passport software. Our treatment regimen elicited a 10% increase in total haemoglobin mass equivalent to approximately two bags of reinfused blood. The passport software did not flag any subjects as being suspicious of doping whilst they were receiving rhEPO. We conclude that it is possible for athletes to use rhEPO without eliciting abnormal changes in the blood variables currently monitored by the Athlete Blood Passport.
Keywords
blood doping, reticulocytes, sysmex, erythropoietin
Date
2011
Type
Journal article
Journal
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Book
Volume
111
Issue
9
Page Range
2307-2314
Article Number
ACU Department
Centre for Exercise and Nutrition
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled