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Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(8): 566-571
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18560
Physiology and Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Artificial Oxygen Carriers - The New Doping Threat in Endurance Sport?

Y. O. Schumacher1 , A. Schmid1 , S. Dinkelmann2 , A. Berg, H. Northoff2
  • 1 Abteilung Rehabilitation, Prävention und Sportmedizin, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Germany
  • 2 Abteilung für Transfusionsmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
20 November 2001 (online)

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Maximal oxygen uptake is the major performance limiting factor in endurance sports. Sophisticated training methods have been developed to increase this variable. On the other hand, attempts have been made to improve maximal oxygen uptake by artificial means: blood doping and the misuse of recombinant human erythropoietin have beneficial effects on aerobic exercise capacity. Both methods have been banned by international sporting federations. A new class of substances might represent the next step of fraudulent improvement of the maximal oxygen uptake: artificial oxygen carriers, such as solutions based on recombinant, bovine or human hemoglobin and perfluorocarbon-emulsions have been shown to improve oxygen delivery to the muscle. Hemoglobin-based solutions improve aerobic exercise capacity in animal and human testing. Both substances have potentially lethal side effects including renal toxicity, increased systemic and pulmonary blood pressure and impairment of the immune system. Hemoglobin-based carriers can be detected in drug testing with routine laboratory tests based on the detection of free hemoglobin. Perfluorocarbon is not metabolized by the body and exhaled through the lung and can be measured with chromatography. No screening for these substances in drug tests has been performed so far. International sporting federations should be aware of this new, emerging doping threat.

Key words:

Blood substitutes, performance, hemoglobin, perfluorocarbon, sport, doping.

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Y. O. Schumacher, M. D.

Abteilung Rehabilitation, Prävention und Sportmedizin
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg

Hugstetter Straße 55
79106 Freiburg
Germany


Phone: + 49 (761) 270-7469

Fax: + 49 (761) 270-7470

Email: olaf@msm1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de

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