It was suggested in another thread that there is no need to test for performance enhancing drugs in freedivers for competition or record attempts, because these drugs do not offer an advantage. Please correct me if I am wrong, but with my limited athlete drug knowledge I can see this for most performance enhancing drugs, except for one glaring exception. Most performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids and stimulants (such as amphetamines, caffeine, etc.), would likely increase the metabolism enough to offset any other advantage. EPO though might be the exception.
Studies have showed EPO can increase the O2 carrying capacity of the blood by 7 to 10%. This seems like it would be a definite advantage without any increase in metabolism. As we know from professional cycling, the worst side effect of too much hematocrit from over use of EPO is heart attack and death!
With the public already so suspicious of the health consequences of freediving it appears to me that the worst thing that could happen to the sport is for an athlete to die from a heart attack in a competition or a record setting event.
Like I said maybe I don’t understand it all, but the way I see it, drug testing, at least for EPO is ultra important in our sport. I applaud the AIDA for taking a stand on this!
Maybe if there is an improvement the AIDA could make is to do away with expensive after the fact testing that includes the drugs that would not benefit freediving performance and have more testing for EPO (or too high of hematocrit) before events. I believe in the Tour de France they test the hematocrit level every morning before the days race to make sure its 50 or less percent. They do this for the athlete’s protection as well as the health of their sport.
Sammy
Studies have showed EPO can increase the O2 carrying capacity of the blood by 7 to 10%. This seems like it would be a definite advantage without any increase in metabolism. As we know from professional cycling, the worst side effect of too much hematocrit from over use of EPO is heart attack and death!
With the public already so suspicious of the health consequences of freediving it appears to me that the worst thing that could happen to the sport is for an athlete to die from a heart attack in a competition or a record setting event.
Like I said maybe I don’t understand it all, but the way I see it, drug testing, at least for EPO is ultra important in our sport. I applaud the AIDA for taking a stand on this!
Maybe if there is an improvement the AIDA could make is to do away with expensive after the fact testing that includes the drugs that would not benefit freediving performance and have more testing for EPO (or too high of hematocrit) before events. I believe in the Tour de France they test the hematocrit level every morning before the days race to make sure its 50 or less percent. They do this for the athlete’s protection as well as the health of their sport.
Sammy