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Blood Doping Side Effects

Blood doping is the injection of blood into the bloodstream (infusion) so as to increase the density of red blood cells (RBC). The aim is to increase oxygen-carrying ability, thereby improving athletic performance.

  1. Inhibited Delivery

    • A hematocrit (RBC density) above 60% slows oxygen delivery. Blood viscosity increases linearly with hematocrit below 60%, but exponentially at 70% or greater. Furthermore, glucose levels in plasma decrease. (ref. 2)

    Comparable to Rare Disease

    • The complications of blood doping can be informed by the symptoms seen in a rare blood-thickening disease called polycythemia vera: blood clots, enlarged spleen, skin reddening, stomach or peptic ulcers, gout, and kidney stones. (ref. 3)

    Disease From Homologous Transfusion

    • There is a risk of disease transfer when transfusions are performed using blood from a source other than the athlete. Blood-borne diseases include HIV and hepatitis.

    Time Required to Recover

    • Endurance athletes need 6 to 8 weeks to replace the RBC lost from removal. The 1984 U.S. cycling team did not have this much time between the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. Coaches then infused the cyclists with the blood of others, thereby infecting some of the athletes with hepatitis. (ref. 1)

    Safer Alternatives

    • The risks of injecting blood can be avoided by training at altitude and sleeping in a hypobaric (low-oxygen) tent. Both alternatives increase RBC concentration.

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