what is blood boasting?
also don't they check hematocrit and hemoglobin levels for signs of EPO use...
Hi BR
Blood boosting goes back many years. Quite simple actually. Withdraw one pint of your blood. Refrigerate that blood. Then on race morning take a transfusion of that blood. You will have an extra pint of blood and therefore more oxygen carrying red blood cells. You'll feel phenomenon. Your body will metabolise that inbalance in a matter of hours so you must do it again. Or-
-withdraw the same pint of blood. Place it in a centrifuge. Separate the all important red blood cells and then take the transfusion but only use the RBC and a very small amount of blood. All they want is the RBC.
Obviously method two takes more planning and equipment, but it's still very easy. All the blood withdraws will have taken place in the weeks leading up to the race.
Remember, when we have oxygen available to burn as fuel there's no byproduct. When we use glycogen as fuel we have that pesky lactic acid as a byproduct. Lactic acid is the devil for pro cyclist.
