Why is epo a performance enhancing drug

A study published in Lancet Hematology concluded that cyclists given a subcutaneous injection of EPO for eight weeks performed no better in exercise tests or road races than cyclists given a placebo. Not only is there no guarantee that EPO can improve sports performance, but there are serious health risks to be aware of as well.

The increased red blood cells resulting from EPO therapy can "thicken" the blood, increase vascular constriction, and cause hypertension high blood pressure.

Thicker and more viscous blood puts an increased strain on the heart, thereby increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke.

Taking EPO with synthetic steroids may amplify their effect. EPO can also cause severe lung toxicity if taken with drugs used to treat leukemia, lymphomas, and breast cancer, such as Cytoxan cyclophosphamide.

Athletes are regularly tested to detect their presence. Athletes who test positive for EPO face possible suspension, loss of competition titles, and even a lifetime ban from sports if the PED abuse is especially egregious. Despite the temptation to use PEDs, the risks to your health and reputation far outweigh any possible benefit.

If you feel that you are underperforming as an athlete, don't let supplements be your first choice of treatment either. Instead, talk to your coach about safer options, such as nutrition, alternate forms of training, or the implementation of sports psychology techniques. If you need to increase your red blood cell count for medical reasons, consult with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that makes sense for you.

Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Effects of erythropoietin on cycling performance of well-trained cyclists: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Haematol. Red blood cells in sports: effects of exercise and training on oxygen supply by red blood cells. Front Physiol. World Anti-Doping Agency. Blood doping. Prohibited at all times. EPO detection. The Atlantic. The man who brought down Lance Armstrong. Updated May ,.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong is stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. Updated October 22, Effects of erythropoietin abuse on exercise performance.

Phys Sportsmed. Cardiovascular effects of erythropoietin. In: Advances in Pharmacology. Epo probably has an impact on people's moods, too. It might thus be used in patients who suffer from depression. The latest experiments conducted by a German-Danish research group reveal that Epo can also alleviate the condition of patients suffering from schizophrenia by improving their mental performance.

Materials provided by University of Zurich. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. Epo has immediate impact on exercise performance In a recently published study, Max Gassmann, a veterinary physiologist from the University of Zurich, proved that Epo also drastically increases motivation in the brain as soon as it has been injected, without the number of red blood cells increasing.

Story Source: Materials provided by University of Zurich. Journal Reference : B. Schuler, J. Vogel, B. Grenacher, R. Repeated doses of EPO can also stimulate the development of antibodies directed against EPO, which can result in anaemia.

The long-term health risks of sustained EPO use are still unclear. This was the first time blood was used for drug testing. Methods such as isoelectric focusing, which is the separation of proteins based on their electrical charge, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which is the separation of proteins based on their size, are used to detect EPO.

Since , EPO tests in the United States were undertaken using only urine; however, in recent years the joint testing methods, such as direct EPO testing in urine and use of indirect markers in blood tests as part of the Athlete Biological Passport have been used to help identify the use of newly-developed erythropoiesis stimulating agents.