Dope.ology

The blood passport represents a new approach in anti-doping measures. Rather than attempt to detect a specific substance, such as EPO or a steroid, the test examines whether specific changes in the body’s physiology occur, changes which suggest the presence of an exogenous substance. In other words, the passport seeks to identify the effects of some performance enhancing substance, rather than the substance itself.

Testing

In order to use this approach effectively, a baseline has to be established for each athlete. This baseline consists of a range of physiological parameters, including:

• Haematocrit - the proportion of red cells in the blood
• Reticulocytes - the proportion of red cells that are newly-synthesized
• Concentrations in the blood of EPO and certain other hormones

An athlete is tested several times over a period of at least six months in order to obtain these parameters. Once determined, it can be assumed that any major deviation from the parameters suggests the use of a performance-enhancing substance.

However since deviations in parameters can have other causes - illness, for example - passport irregularities cannot be employed with as much certainty as positive drug tests to sanction an athlete.

An athlete with abnormal parameters may be notified and thus given an opportunity to explain the situation. If violations continue, then the athlete may be charged with doping.

Contributor: Andy Smith