Blood Doping Research Paper

Blood doping refers to a few techniques that are used to increase and improve athletic performance. Blood doping increases red blood cells which in return enable the body to transport more oxygen to the body’s muscles. This allows the athlete to have a higher endurance by an estimated 5% which allows them to be able to perform the activity for a longer period of time. Since blood doping increases oxygen it’s harder for the athletes to exhaust themselves. Blood doping also improves the athlete’s athletic performance. The three most common methods of blood doping are erythropoietin (EPO) injections, blood transfusions, and synthetic oxygen carriers. All of which are prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agnecys (WADA) List of Prohibited Substances

EPO is produced naturally in the body, primarily by the kidneys however the EPO injection is a man-made version designed produce red blood cells by stimulating bone marrow. The intended use of EPO is primarily for patients with later stage kidney disease or severe anemia. Blood transfusions are another method highly used and there are two kinds, Autologous and homologous. An autologous blood uses the athletes own blood, which has been previously stored until needed. Homologous transfusions are blood transfusions from blood from someone other than the athlete but that has the same blood type. Clinically blood transfusions are given to patients who have lost large amounts of blood due to surgery or injury but can also be given to patients who have low red blood cell counts due to other conditions and illnesses. The final method of blood doping is by the use of synthetic oxygen carriers. Synthetic oxygen carriers are chemicals or purified proteins that have the ability to carry oxygen through the body. The two main synthetic oxygen carries used are HBOCs (hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and PFCs (perfluorocarbons). Synthetic oxygen carriers are very important in the normal medical setting. They are often used when a patient needs a blood transfusion but there isn’t a blood type match or human blood available. Although the methods are very different from one another the end result to the athlete is the