The illegal practice of increasing red blood cell count through transfusions or EPO to enhance oxygen delivery and endurance.
Blood doping encompasses various methods of artificially increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. This includes blood transfusions (autologous or homologous) and the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents like EPO.
• Athlete's own blood is withdrawn and stored • Red blood cells are preserved while body regenerates supply • Blood is re-infused before competition • Difficult to detect as it's the athlete's own blood
• Blood from a compatible donor is transfused • Easier to detect through DNA testing • Higher risk of complications
• Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) • Experimental and highly dangerous
• Hematocrit increase of 5-10% • VO2 Max improvements of 5-12% • Enhanced lactate buffering capacity • Improved time trial performance by 3-8%
• Blood thickening leading to stroke risk • Heart attacks from increased blood viscosity • Pulmonary embolism • Infections from transfusion contamination • Fatal outcomes documented in 1980s-1990s cyclists
• Blood transfusions used in 1970s-1980s • No testing methods available • Several suspicious deaths in European peloton
Operation Puerto (2006): • Spanish doping network exposed • Blood bags linked to numerous cyclists • Led to expulsions from 2006 Tour de France • Improved detection protocols implemented
• Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) • Monitors hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes • Flags abnormal variations from baseline • No-advance-notice testing
• DNA testing of blood bags and samples • Cross-referencing with athlete DNA • Retrospective analysis of stored samples
• Static hematocrit limits (50% rule) • Easily circumvented by micro-dosing
With ABP (2008-present): • Individual baseline tracking • Longitudinal data analysis • Statistical modeling of normal variation • Makes even small manipulations detectable
Blood doping represents one of cycling's darkest chapters but also drove the development of sophisticated anti-doping measures including the Biological Passport. Understanding these methods helps contextualize why modern testing is so comprehensive.
The main misconception is that blood doping is undetectable. Modern Biological Passport technology makes it extremely difficult to manipulate blood values without detection. The risks far outweigh any potential benefits in the current anti-doping environment.