Implementation of the biological passport: The experience of the International Cycling Union

Zorzoli, Mario; Rossi, Francesca

doi:10.1002/dta.173

Cited by 69 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Ideally, any blood sample collected for the ABP programme would be accompanied by a corresponding urine sample and isoelectric focussing test (Lasne 2001). However, during out of competition testing in 2009, the UCIs Biological Passport programme collected 6,165 blood samples but only 2,165 accompanying urine samples were tested for rhEPO (Zorzoli and Rossi 2010), dictating that in many circumstances blood values must be interpreted in isolation. It was this latter reality we sought to reproduce in the current study.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current markers of the Athlete Blood Passport do not flag microdose EPO doping

Ashenden¹,

et al. 2011

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The Athlete Blood Passport is the most recent tool adopted by anti-doping authorities to detect athletes using performance-enhancing drugs such as recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). This strategy relies on detecting abnormal variations in haematological variables caused by doping, against a background of biological and analytical variability. Ten subjects were given twice weekly intravenous injections of rhEPO for up to 12 weeks. Full blood counts were measured using a Sysmex XE-2100 automated haematology analyser, and total haemoglobin mass via a carbon monoxide rebreathing test. The sensitivity of the passport to flag abnormal deviations in blood values was evaluated using dedicated Athlete Blood Passport software. Our treatment regimen elicited a 10% increase in total haemoglobin mass equivalent to approximately two bags of reinfused blood. The passport software did not flag any subjects as being suspicious of doping whilst they were receiving rhEPO. We conclude that it is possible for athletes to use rhEPO without eliciting abnormal changes in the blood variables currently monitored by the Athlete Blood Passport.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current markers of the Athlete Blood Passport do not flag microdose EPO doping

Ashenden¹,

et al. 2011

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“…Aside from the successful deterring effect of the continuous monitoring of blood values, which is well documented in the data presented by the International Cycling Federation (18 ), the passport can be used as a targeting tool for conventional antidoping tests. Here again, the expert plays a crucial role in helping the antidoping stakeholders through the APMU in designing suitable target testing programs in this context.…”

Section: Outlook Use Of Resources: Timing Of Passport Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Expertise and the Athlete Biological Passport: 3 Years of Experience

Schumacher

D’Onofrio

2012

Clinical Chemistry

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Expert evaluation of biological data is a key component of the Athlete Biological Passport approach in the fight against doping. The evaluation consists of a longitudinal assessment of biological variables to determine the probability of the data being physiological on the basis of the athlete's on own previous values (performed by an automated software system using a Bayesian model) and a subjective evaluation of the results in view of possible causes (performed by experts). The role of the expert is therefore a key component in the process. Experts should be qualified to evaluate the data regarding possible explanations related to the influence of doping products and methods, analytical issues, and the influence of exercise or pathological conditions. The evaluation provides a scientific basis for the decision taken by a disciplinary panel. This evaluation should therefore encompass and balance all possible causes for a given blood profile and provide a likelihood for potential scenarios (pathology, normal variation, doping) that might have caused the pattern. It should comply with the standards for the evaluation of scientific evidence in forensics. On the basis of their evaluation of profiles, experts might provide assistance in planning appropriate target testing schemes.

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“…This fact is extremely important. In 2009, the UCI's Biological Passport programme collected 6,165 blood samples but only 2,165 accompanying urine samples were tested for rHuEpo (Zorzoli & Rossi, 2010). Only if an athlete has an irregular blood value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid hemodilution induced by desmopressin after erythropoietin administration in humans

Sanchís-Gomar¹,

Martínez-Bello²,

Derbré³

et al. 2011

JHSE

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. We have shown that treatment with desmopressin has a very effective hemodilution effect in healthy humans. These results led us to suggest the possible role of desmopressin to mask blood doping in sports. Based on our results, the World Anti-Doping Agency included the desmopressin in the 2011 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. On this occasion, the aim of our study was to test the desmopressininduced hemodilution after rHuEpo administration in humans. This was an intra-subject, crossover study in which five physically active males acted as their own controls. A basal blood sample was taken on their first visit to the laboratory. The next day, the subjects began the treatment. They received a subcutaneous rHuEpo injection three times/week for a two-week period. On the second visit to the laboratory, seventeen days later, a blood sample was taken. Thereafter, the subjects received an oral dose of 4.3 µg/kg of desmopressin and were instructed to ingest 1.5 liters of mineral water during the following fifteen minutes. Three hours after the water ingestion a second blood sample was obtained. The samples were analyzed for hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocytes (Ret%) and OFF Hr-Score. We found significantly higher HCT, Hb and Ret% levels after rHuEpo administration. Administration of desmopressin significantly decreased the HCT and Hb values but we did not find significant changes in Ret%. The values of the OFF Hr-Score also decreased after treatment with desmopressin. Desmopressin has a very effective hemodilution effect after rHuEpo administration and significantly modifies the hematological values measured by the anti-doping authorities to detect blood doping. We consider that these results reinforce the conclusions reported in our first study and confirm that desmopressin is a very effective masking agent for blood doping.

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Implementation of the biological passport: The experience of the International Cycling Union

Cited by 69 publications

References 6 publications

Current markers of the Athlete Blood Passport do not flag microdose EPO doping

Current markers of the Athlete Blood Passport do not flag microdose EPO doping

Scientific Expertise and the Athlete Biological Passport: 3 Years of Experience

Rapid hemodilution induced by desmopressin after erythropoietin administration in humans

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