"EPO does not boost cyclists' performance"

[mr_stig]

This article has just been posted on the Mail & Guardian website.

 

"Cyclists who dope themselves with EPO may not gain any performance advantage even though they are putting their health at risk, scientists said."

 

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-12-06-scientists-epo-does-not-boost-cyclists-performance

[jcza]

Yes

 

EDIT: Why am I even in this thread??

Edited December 6, 2012 by jcza

[mr_stig]

If this is in fact true, there are a whole bunch of podium finishing cyclists who won on the power of placebos.

[Velouria]

Said it yesterday on the other thread:

 

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

[mr_stig]

Said it yesterday on the other thread:

 

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

 

I wonder who is funding the research. Might give us a clue as to why they obtained the results they did

[Danger Dassie]

 

 

The Science of Sport ‏@Scienceofsport

Also note oversimplification of EPO effects - if doesn't work on VO2max, it must not work http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/12/06/3649102.htm … Narrow paradigm of physiology

 

 

The Science of Sport ‏@Scienceofsport

And finally,remember they said same about steroids. Athletes knew the truth all along. Sometimes science scampers after truth like a toddler

[Red Zone]

Seriously?

 

"Only small segments of professional cycling races are cycled at such severe intensities that VO2 max is decisive. There are many other factors, none of them influenced by EPO."

 

What, like multiple climbs over 10 km long?

[Master216]

Just read the book:The Secret Race

 

It helps you train harder...........

[igknot]

EPO: Evening Primrose Oil

[cajohnston]

"There are many other factors, none of them influenced by EPO...They include the blood lactate threshold, which determines the point at which muscles tire; work economy, which is the efficiency of the metabolic system to convert energy into movement; increased cardiac volume; and the quantity of muscle mass available for sustained power production."

 

Would all of these factors pointed out not be reduced/improved by increased oxygen uptake and transfer throughout the body? I am no Dr. but I am pretty sure all exercise related fatigue is attributable to your bodies ability to uptake and efficiently use oxygen?

[andydude]

"There are many other factors, none of them influenced by EPO...They include the blood lactate threshold, which determines the point at which muscles tire;

 

Isn't lactose threshold where you can't get enough oxygen to the muscles? Oxygen to the muscles are delivered by red blood cells in the blood [which EPO can boost]. Oxygen is obtained from the lungs which comes from breathing.

 

Over simplification, but that is what I understood.

[SeaBee]

I think it was Jeroen calling it rubbish, quoting some proven advantage percentages and then adding something to the tune of "otherwise we won't have seen a 14% drop in power over the last 4 years".

 

I suspect he wasn't talking about Eskom.