Abstract
The effect of reinfusion of autologous blood (1350 ml) on exercise time over a specified
distance (approx. 15 km) 4 weeks after phlebotomy (“blood doping”) were investigated
in six well-trained cross-country skiers. An additional control group of six well-trained
skiers was included in the study. Test races were performed before phlebotomy, 3 h
after, and 14 days after reinfusion of blood. In each test race, the mean time of
the control group was set to 100% and the time of the blood-doped subjects expressed
in percentage of the control group mean time. In the first control race, the mean
time of the subjects who were later “blood doped” was 99.4% of the control group.
However, both 3 h and 14 days after the reinfusion of autologous blood, the mean time
of the blood-doped subjects was significantly lower (94.1%; P<0.05; 96.3%, P<0.05, respectively) than the control group. In conclusion, reinfusion of autologous
blood stored in a refrigerator for 4 weeks after phlebotomy significantly increased
performance expressed as race time in cross-country skiers. The significantly increased
performance was observed both 3 h and 14 days after reinfusion.
Key words
physical exercise - blood storage - blood doping - blood boosting
