Erythropoietin as banned substance in professional sports: effects on maximal aerobic capacity, endurance and detection methods - a review

AGHADI, Artur, DYBAŁA, Ewelina, CUBER, Iwona, MAZUREK, Magdalena & BIAŁOWĄS, Edyta. Erythropoietin as banned substance in professional sports: effects on maximal aerobic capacity, endurance and detection methods - a review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;13(3):331-336. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.13.03.042

https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/42251

https://zenodo.org/record/7641712

The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 21, 2021. No. 32343.

Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences).

Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 21 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159.

Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu).

© The Authors 2023;

This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike.

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Received: 23.01.2023. Revised: 26.01.2023. Accepted: 14.02.2023.

Erythropoietin as banned substance in professional sports: effects on maximal aerobic capacity, endurance and detection methods - a review

Artur Aghadi

aghadi.artur1995@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9020-0433

Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego w Lublinie

Ewelina Dybała

ewelina.dybala@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6285-822X

Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego w Lublinie

Iwona Cuber

cuber.iwona@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0507-0126

Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego w Lublinie

Magdalena Mazurek

magdalenamazurekk.95@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8196-3180

Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego w Lublinie

Edyta Białowąs

edytaacc@interia.pl

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6002-5689

Szpital Miejski im. Jana Pawła II w Rzeszowie

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Erythropoietin (Epo) and its analogs are used as performance-enhancing substances and are considered doping and are therefore forbidden in sports, however, the scientific evidence behind doping is frequently weak. We aimed to determine the mechanisms of erythropoietin on endurance including maximal aerobic capacity and to present detection methods.

State of knowledge: Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein cytokine. During cellular hypoxia, Epo is secreted mainly by the kidneys, it stimulates bone marrow production of red blood cells. To compensate for normal red cell turnover, low levels of Epo are constantly secreted in sufficient quantities. In addition to anemia and chronic lung disease, cellular hypoxia can result in elevated levels of Epo. VO₂ max is the peak volume of oxygen that a person can consume during exercise. Essential for breathing, oxygen is inhaled by the lungs and converted into energy, which then fuels human cells and expels carbon dioxide in the exhaled breath. This allows the body to manage more efficiently aerobic workouts that involve a large amount of oxygen intake, such as running, swimming or other cardio exercises.

Conclusions: Current data from PubMed indicate the relationship between Epo overuse and increased endurance in professional sports. The rate of VO2 max is an important determinant of aerobic power in sports because VO2 max correlates with the Hb concentration. That is one of the most important reasons to pay attention to the effects of Epo and detection methods.

Keywords: erythropoietin, maximal aerobic capacity, detection methods.