Dr Darren Burke Tested Blood Boosting On Sprinting Performance

Athletes are continually seeking methods to optimize their performance, pushing the boundaries of human capabilities. I recall experimenting with a lot of things back in my competitive days. This included hypoxic training before I even knew what it was all about. I was 16 and training for sprint canoeing in the 500 metre C-1: an event that lasts about 2 minutes. I’d often puke and almost pass out but found that holding my breath and doing repeats until exhaustion in practice helped a lot during competition. Little did I know that later in graduate school I would learn the mechanisms related to this blood boosting training adaptation.

Blood boosting has been a controversial yet intriguing strategy to enhance athletic performance. It refers to techniques aimed at increasing the red blood cell count and enhancing their oxygen-carrying capacity. While the intent behind blood boosting is to improve endurance and overall performance, it is crucial to understand the different methods, potential benefits, and the risks associated with this practice.

Understanding Blood Boosting

Blood boosting techniques are designed to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, primarily through the manipulation of red blood cells. There are three main methods of blood boosting:

• Blood Doping: Blood doping involves the transfusion of either the athlete’s own previously stored blood (autologous transfusion) or donated blood (homologous transfusion) to increase the red blood cell count. This method aims to enhance endurance and performance by increasing the availability of oxygen to the muscles.
• Erythropoietin (EPO) Administration: EPO is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates red blood cell production. In blood boosting, synthetic forms of EPO are administered to stimulate the production of additional red blood cells. By increasing the number of red blood cells, athletes aim to enhance oxygen delivery and improve performance.
• Hypoxia-Induced Techniques: These methods involve exposing the body to hypoxic conditions (such as high-altitude training or intermittent hypoxic training) to stimulate the natural production of EPO and increase red blood cell count. The adaptations induced by hypoxic training mimic the effects of blood doping or EPO administration but in a more natural manner.

Potential Benefits of Blood Boosting

• Improved Endurance: By increasing the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity, blood boosting methods aim to enhance endurance capabilities. With more oxygen available to the muscles, athletes may experience increased stamina, delayed fatigue, and the ability to sustain higher intensities for longer periods.
• Enhanced Recovery: Blood boosting techniques have the potential to accelerate recovery between intense training sessions or competitions. The increased oxygen-carrying capacity can aid in clearing metabolic waste products, facilitating the repair and regeneration of tissues.
• Performance Gains: Athletes utilizing blood boosting methods may witness significant improvements in their performance, particularly in endurance-based activities such as long-distance running, cycling, and cross-country skiing. The enhanced oxygen delivery to the muscles can enable athletes to maintain a faster pace or exert higher effort levels throughout their performances.

Potential Risks and Ethical Considerations

Blood boosting carries potential risks that cannot be ignored and ethical considerations regarding fair play in sport:

• Health Risks: Blood boosting techniques, particularly blood doping and EPO administration, can pose severe health risks. Excessive increases in red blood cell count can lead to thickening of the blood, increasing the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart problems. Moreover, the misuse or improper administration of these substances can have life-threatening consequences.
• Unfair Advantage: Blood boosting methods provide athletes with an unfair advantage over their competitors. They deviate from the principles of fair play and sportsmanship, compromising the integrity of athletic competition.
• Legal and Anti-Doping Regulations: Blood boosting methods are strictly regulated in sports organizations and are considered prohibited practices. Athletes found guilty of blood doping or EPO use can face severe penalties, including disqualification, bans, and tarnished reputations.

While blood boosting techniques hold the potential for performance enhancement, their health risks cannot be overlooked. In addition, athletes and coaches need to be aware that sports organizations test for blood boosting and the use of EPO. In my view the health risks related to blood doping through transfusions or EPO are not worth the risk, and ethically the practice is not fair for competition in sport, and should not be a thing even considered. However, there is no testing nor harm related to the hypoxic training practices I mentioned above. In fact, I strongly encourage it for athletes competing in events lasting around two minutes or longer. It is a natural, safe, and effective strategy for numerous beneficial performance enhancing adaptions.