Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Summary
The inherent complexity of the topic stems from interface between human
behavior and the many disciplines that have something to offer, including
chemistry,pharmacology,medicine, law, ethics, and sociology. Ultimately if
sport continues to rely on testing as the solution, it is necessary to focus
resources on physical and chemical methods for detecting drugs. At the same
time, sport hopes to change its culture through education and espousing ethi-
cal positions.
Doping with erythropoietic proteins, the most recalcitrant and threatening
problem for sport in recent years, is coming under control. The problem is
threatening because the drugs are highly efficacious and they enhance per-
formance in endurance sports and, perhaps, even sports that rely on short
bursts of energy. The problem is recalcitrant because the methods to detect ery-
thropoietic proteins in body fluids are complex, therefore global implementa-
tion is all the more difficult, and it is difficult to track athletes in their travels
and implement collection procedures wherever they may be.
The current test is adequate from the perspective of unambiguous identifi-
cation and legal defensibility, and it will no doubt improve; however, it is prob-
ably not sensitive enough to detect recombinant erythropoietic proteins for as
long as performance enhancement will last. Fortunately such a degree of sen-
sitivity is not required to contain the overall problem: The current test simply
needs to be applied widely enough in short notice, out-of-competition testing.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful for financial support from the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the International
Olympic Committee for studies on erythropoietic proteins, to Amgen Inc. for generously providing
epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa, and to Steve Elliott, PhD, for his advice on the interpretation of iso-
electric focusing analysis results and related matters. A. Breidbach led the research group that per-
formed the isoelectric focusing analysis for the figure.
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