Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own
knowledge to answer the questions that follow.
Blood doping
In 2015, information was revealed from 12 539 blood tests involving 5000 athletes.
The information suggested that there had been extensive cheating by athletes at the
world’s major sporting events between 2001 and 2012.
Many athletes had blood samples that showed more variation in blood composition over
5 time than would be expected. This variation led to the suspicion that these athletes were
cheating. In total, 12 per cent of the individual blood tests showed more variation than
expected.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) concluded that these athletes had been involved in a
process called blood doping, in an attempt to improve their chances of winning. Blood
10 doping is the use of certain techniques or substances to increase the number of red
blood cells to improve an athlete’s stamina and performance.
One method of blood doping uses blood transfusion. A volume of blood is removed from an
athlete’s body one month before competition. This blood is vacuum-sealed and stored in a
fridge. In the weeks that follow, the body increases red blood cell production to make up
15 for the red blood cells that were removed. Eventually, the athlete’s body replaces all of
the blood that was removed. A few days before the race, the red blood cells from the stored
blood are transfused back into the athlete’s body. This increases the number of available
red blood cells.
This transfusion can cause significant health risks for the athlete. Unnaturally high red
20 blood cell levels increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.
Dehydration as a result of exercise can make matters worse.
Another method of blood doping involves the use of a synthetic form of the hormone EPO.
This hormone is a peptide produced naturally by the human body. It is released from the
kidneys and stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Synthetic EPO can be
25 developed and injected into the body. Urine tests for the detection of synthetic EPO
have been improved.
WADA states that transfusions for blood doping have been happening for decades. However,
the recent publicity about blood doping is likely to be the result of better detection of
synthetic EPO.