THE ALLURE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP OVERSHADOW ATHLETE’S PROSPECTIVE

CAREER

Blood doping in Sport

By Linh Ngo

ATHLETES’ ACHIEVEMENTS

• ATHLETES ARE STRONGER AND FASTER THAN EVER

• WORLD RECORDS CONTINUE TO BE BROKEN DRAMATICALLY, IT SEEMS EVEN THOSE

RECORDS ONCE THOUGHT TO BE UNBREAKABLE.

• ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CLAIMED FOR THE ADVANCEMENT IN TRAINING

TECHNIQUES, LIKE HIGH ATTITUDE TRAINING, APPROPRIATE DIET, AND ADVANCE

EQUIPMENT.

ILLICIT METHODS

• HOWEVER, AMONG THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, SOME ARE ALSO RESULTS OF MANIPULATING ILLICIT TECHNIQUES BY WHICH ATHLETES HAVE BEEN USED TO REACH THEIR VICTORIES.

• BLOOD DOPING ARE THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL METHOD TO USE IN SPORT WORLD.

• POPULARLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPE OF BLOOD DOPING WHICH ARE APPLIED BY ATHLETES

ILLICIT METHODS (cont.)

1. ATHLETE ESSENTIALLY DONATES ERYTHROCYTES TO HIMSELF OR HERSELF.

2. ATHLETE RECEIVES A CERTAIN UNIT OF RED BLOOD CELLS FROM ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

3. ATHLETE CAN PERFORM BLOOD DOPING BY INJECTING ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO), A TYPE OF KIDNEY HORMONES, WHICH STIMULATES TO INCREASE RED BLOOD CELLS SYNTHESIS.

BLOOD DOPING- ILLICIT METHODS

• THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING HAS BANNED BLOOD DOPING

• THE COMPETITIVE SPORT ARENA IS FAIR ARENA TO SHOW TALENTED.

• DETRIMENTAL DAMAGES ON CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

- BLOOD VESSELS

- HEART

• DEADLY LETHAL RESULT MAY OCCUR DUE TO INCREASING

VISCOSITY SUDDENTLY.

THE PURPOSE TO PARTICIPATE BLOOD DOPING

• INJECTING RED BLOOD CELLS TO INCREASE DELIVERY MORE OXYGEN TO THE CELLS SUFFICIENTLY

• MUSCLES IMPROVE ATHLETIC MUSCLES PERFORMANCE IN HIGH ENDURANCE EVENT

• PROCESS CAN INCREASE THE HEMOGLOBIN LEVEL AND RED BLOOD CELLS COUNT BY UP TO 20% EXTRA

• SUPPRESS MUSCLE’S TIREDNESS SYMPTOM LIKE CRAMPING, TINGLING SENSATION DURING ENDURING EXERCISE DUE TO HIGH LEVEL OF LACTIC ACID ACCUMULATED IN THE BLOOD.

PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF RED BLOOD CELLS

• RED BLOOD CELLS HAVE SHORT LIFE-SPAN 120 DAYS APPROXIMATELY.• SYNTHESIZED CONSTANTLY FROM BONE MARROW• BE THE CRITICAL ELEMENT IN HELPING THE CELLS TO GENERATE ENERGY

FOR THE BODY’S NEEDS• TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND

PULMONARY SYSTEM1. PICK UP OXYGENATED BLOOD FROM PULMONARY AND DELIVERY TO THE CELLS THROUGH

THE HEART

2. CARRY DEOXYGENATED BLOOD BACK THE PULMONARY SYSTEM TO BE EXHALED

BLOOD DOPING’S DRAWBACK

• INCREASE THE FRICTION IN BLOOD VESSELS • THE HEART WORKS HARDER TO BUMP THE

BLOOD THROUGHOUT THE BODY• INCREASES THE VISCOSITY OF THE BLOOD

• POTENTIALLY SPREADING TRANSMITTED DISEASES

• POTENTIALLY DAMAGE ATHLETE’S REPUTATION

FORMS OF BLOOD DOPING

1. HOMOLOGOUS TRANSFUSION: RED BLOOD CELLS ARE DONATED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL

2. AUTOLOGOUS TRANSFUSION: ATHLETE’S OWN RED BLOOD CELLS

3. ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO): KIDNEY HORMONE IS INJECTED TO STIMULATE BONE MARROW TO SYNTHESIS MORE RED BLOOD CELLS

UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES

• BLOOD DOPING IS CONSIDERED ILLEGAL AND ZERO-TOLERANT IN SPORT WORLD

• LANCE ARM STRONG SCANDAL: “TOUR DE FRANCE” CYCLIST CHAMPION IN CONSECUTIVE SEVEN YEARS HIS VICTORIES WAS THE RESULT OF BLOOD DOPING THE USADA (UNITED STATES ANTI-DOPING AGENCY) STRIPPED OFF ALL HIS

VICTORIES. HE WAS BANNED FROM PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORT ARENA

THE TROPHY MUST BE THE RESULT OF A HARD WORK

• THE TROPHY IS ALWAYS THE DREAM, HOPE, WISH OF ANY ATHLETE WHO IS PURSUING IN THE PROFESSIONAL GYMNASTIC FIELD.

• ATHLETES WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO MAKE THEIR DREAM COMES TRUE BY USING ILLICIT METHODS TO GAIN THE VICTORY HAVE NEVER BEEN CONSIDERED AS A CHAMPION IN ANY PROFESSIONAL SPORT EVENTS

• APPROPRIATE METHODS TO OBTAIN FOR INDIVIDUAL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HEMOGLOBIN BY ADAPTING A HEALTHY DIET (RICH FOLIC ACID AND VITAMIN B12), HIGH ATTITUDE TRAINING

• PRACTICING PATIENTLY

• PLAY FAIR