Table 1 Changes of haematological variables related to rhEPO doping protocol

rhEPO doping

Bejder, Aachmann-Andersen et al. [15]

Recreational athletes (n = 16)

Sixteen subjects received either 65 IU rhEPO·kg⁻¹ every second day for 2 weeks (G1/normal-dose) or 390 IU rhEPO·kg⁻¹ on 3 consecutive days (G2/high-dose) for 13 d in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover design

=/=

↑ + 81%

↓ − 14%

–

–

(NS)

↑ + 135% (11 d)

↓ − 21% (11 d)

↓ − 26%

↑ + 18%

↓ − 21%

↑ + 13%

(25 d)

(25 d)

Bornø et al. [16]

Recreational athletes (n = 24)

Twenty-four human subjects divided into three groups with eight subjects each were injected with rhEPO. The G1 and G2 groups received rhEPO for a 4-week period with 2 weeks of boosting followed by 2 weeks of maintenance and a washout period of 3 weeks. G3 received rhEPO for a 10-week period: boost (3 weeks/T1), maintenance (7 weeks/T2) and washout (1 week/T3)

=

↑

↓

–

–

(T1)

(T1)

(T1)

↑

↓

↑

(T3)

(T3)

(T3)

Clark et al. [17]

Recreational athletes (n = 16)

Eight subjects were assigned to receive six subcutaneous high-doses of 250 IU·kg⁻¹ of rhEPO over 2 weeks (G1) while eight other subjects were assigned to receive six high-doses plus nine rhEPO micro-doses over a further 3 weeks (G2)

↑ + 1.5

 + 0.7%

↓ − 37pt

↑ + 6%

↓ − 6dL

↑ + 2.8 g·dL⁻¹

 + 1.0%

↓ − 17pt

↑ + 10%

↓ − 2dL

(2 weeks)

(2 weeks)

↑ (2 weeks)

(2 weeks)

(2 weeks)

↑ (4 weeks)

Ashenden et al. [18]

Recreational athletes (n = 10)

Ten subjects were given twice-weekly intravenous micro-dose injections of rhEPO for up to 12 weeks. All subjects received the same total quantity of rhEPO (adjusted for body weight) during the titration phase

=

=

=

–

–

(NS)

(NS)

(NS)

Haile et al. [19]

Runners (n = 20)

Twenty well-trained Kenyan endurance runners living and training at approximately 2150 m received rhEPO injections of 50 IU·kg⁻¹ body mass every 2 d for 4 weeks. This cohort (KEN) was compared with a previously published cohort (SCO) of 19 Scottish endurance-trained men based at or near sea level

↑ + 10%

↑

↓

↑ + 10%

–

(4 weeks)

(4 weeks)

(4 weeks)

(4 weeks)

↑

(6 weeks)