Banned Substances

Why are there regulations on what you can take to improve your performance?

Is it fair that some organizations allow substances that others may not?

Blood Doping “The misuse of certain techniques and/or substances to increase one’s red blood cell mass, which allows the body to transport more oxygen to muscles and therefore increase stamina and performance” (WADA, 2011).

Blood Doping

Blood Doping Some individuals naturally have a higher hemoglobin level The hemoglobin level is expressed as the amount of hemoglobin in grams (gm) per deciliter (being 100 milliliters). • Children: 11 to 13 gm/dL • Adult males: 14 to 18 gm/dL • Adult women: 12 to 16 gm/dL • Men after middle age: 12.4 to 14.9 gm/dL • Women after middle age: 11.7 to 13.8 gm/dL (Butterworth, 2012).

Blood Doping Endurance sport athletes artificially increase their hemoglobin level by: Transfusing their own blood prior to competition Transfusing others blood prior to competition Taking a substance to increase level in the body (EPO)

Blood Transfusions

Blood Transfusions Possible Side effects: thickening the blood and increasing the volume of blood, leads to an increased risk of several deadly diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and cerebral or pulmonary embolism as well as possible contraction from diseases carried through the blood.(WADA, 2011)

EPO Erythropoietin: Is a synthetic drug that carries oxygen as blood does. The intended (and legal) use of EPO has an enormous therapeutic benefit in the treatment of anemia related to kidney disease, by improving the bloods ability to transport oxygen as well as nutrients to the body.

Lance Armstrong Convicted of both use of blood transfusions as well as use of EPO Excessive drug testing was done through his career, none of which came up positive for EPO (Butterworth, 2012).

Should Blood doping be allowed? Very hard to test for Very prevalent in professional competition Could it be regulated to create an even playing field? Can a test be created to test for it?

Works Cited Butterworth, T. (2012). The Kafkaesque Trial of Lance Armstrong: A Former Fedral Prosecutor On the US Anti-Doping Agency's Disregard For Due Process. Forbes. Magnay, J. (2008, August 2). Russia faces IOC action over drugs. Retrieved 2014, from theage.com.au: http://www.theage.com.au/news/latest-news/russia-faces-ioc-action-over-drugs/2008/08/01/1217097535147.html USADA. (2012). Statement From USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart Regarding The U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy. USADA. WADA. (2011, September). World Anti-Doping Agency play true. (W. 2014, Editor, & WADA, Lightmaker) Retrieved April 23, 2014, from www.wada-ama.org: http://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/q-and-a/blood-doping/ Thurston, J. (n.d.). Chemical Warfare: Battling Steroids in Athletics. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=sportslaw