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Krumm B, Saugy JJ, Botrè F, Donati F, Faiss R. Indirect biomarkers of blood doping: A systematic review. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:49-64. [PMID: 37160638 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The detection of blood doping represents a current major issue in sports and an ongoing challenge for antidoping research. Initially focusing on direct detection methods to identify a banned substance or its metabolites, the antidoping effort has been progressively complemented by indirect approaches. The longitudinal and individual monitoring of specific biomarkers aims to identify nonphysiological variations that may be related to doping practices. From this perspective, the identification of markers sensitive to erythropoiesis alteration is key in the screening of blood doping. The current Athlete Biological Passport implemented since 2009 is composed of 14 variables (including two primary markers, i.e., hemoglobin concentration and OFF score) for the hematological module to be used for indirect detection of blood doping. Nevertheless, research has continually proposed and investigated new markers sensitive to an alteration of the erythropoietic cascade and specific to blood doping. If multiple early markers have been identified (at the transcriptomic level) or developed directly in a diagnostics' kit (at a proteomic level), other target variables at the end of the erythropoietic process (linked with the red blood cell functions) may strengthen the hematological module in the future. Therefore, this review aims to provide a global systematic overview of the biomarkers considered to date in the indirect investigation of blood doping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Krumm
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonas J Saugy
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Botrè
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Donati
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Raphael Faiss
- REDs, Research & Expertise in AntiDoping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Grau M, Zollmann E, Bros J, Seeger B, Dietz T, Noriega Ureña JA, Grolle A, Zacher J, Notbohm HL, Suck G, Bloch W, Schumann M. Autologous Blood Doping Induced Changes in Red Blood Cell Rheologic Parameters, RBC Age Distribution, and Performance. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050647. [PMID: 35625375 PMCID: PMC9137932 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Autologous blood doping (ABD) refers to the artificial increase in circulating red blood cell (RBC) mass by sampling, storage, and transfusion of one’s own blood. It is assumed that some athletes apply this prohibited technique to improve oxygen transport capacity and thus exercise performance. The primary aim of this study was to test whether RBC rheological and associated parameters significantly change due to ABD with the consideration of whether this type of measurement might be suitable for detecting ABD. Further, it was assessed whether those changes are translated into indices of endurance performance. Eight males underwent an ABD protocol combined with several blood parameter measurements and two exercise tests (pre and post transfusion). Results of this investigation suggest a change in the distribution of age-related RBC sub-populations and altered deformability of total RBC as well as of the respective sub-populations. Further, the identified changes in RBC also appear to improve sports performance. In conclusion, these data demonstrate significant changes in hematological and hemorheological parameters, which could be of interest in the context of new methods for ABD detection. However, additional research is needed with larger and more diverse study groups to widen the knowledge gained by this study. Abstract Autologous blood doping (ABD) refers to the transfusion of one’s own blood after it has been stored. Although its application is prohibited in sports, it is assumed that ABD is applied by a variety of athletes because of its benefits on exercise performance and the fact that it is not detectable so far. Therefore, this study aims at identifying changes in hematological and hemorheological parameters during the whole course of ABD procedure and to relate those changes to exercise performance. Eight healthy men conducted a 31-week ABD protocol including two blood donations and the transfusion of their own stored RBC volume corresponding to 7.7% of total blood volume. Longitudinal blood and rheological parameter measurements and analyses of RBC membrane proteins and electrolyte levels were performed. Thereby, responses of RBC sub-populations—young to old RBC—were detected. Finally, exercise tests were carried out before and after transfusion. Results indicate a higher percentage of young RBC, altered RBC deformability and electrolyte concentration due to ABD. In contrast, RBC membrane proteins remained unaffected. Running economy improved after blood transfusion. Thus, close analysis of RBC variables related to ABD detection seems feasible but should be verified in further more-detailed studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke Grau
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Emily Zollmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Janina Bros
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Benedikt Seeger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Thomas Dietz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Javier Antonio Noriega Ureña
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service West, Center for Transfusion Medicine Hagen, Feithstraße 184, 58097 Hagen, Germany; (J.A.N.U.); (A.G.); (G.S.)
| | - Andreas Grolle
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service West, Center for Transfusion Medicine Hagen, Feithstraße 184, 58097 Hagen, Germany; (J.A.N.U.); (A.G.); (G.S.)
| | - Jonas Zacher
- Department of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Hannah L. Notbohm
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Garnet Suck
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service West, Center for Transfusion Medicine Hagen, Feithstraße 184, 58097 Hagen, Germany; (J.A.N.U.); (A.G.); (G.S.)
| | - Wilhelm Bloch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Moritz Schumann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany; (E.Z.); (J.B.); (B.S.); (T.D.); (H.L.N.); (W.B.); (M.S.)
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Seeger B, Grau M. Relation between Exercise Performance and Blood Storage Condition and Storage Time in Autologous Blood Doping. BIOLOGY 2020; 10:14. [PMID: 33383643 PMCID: PMC7824255 DOI: 10.3390/biology10010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Professional athletes are expected to continuously improve their performance, and some might also use illegal methods-e.g., autologous blood doping (ABD)-to achieve improvements. This article applies a systematic literature review to investigate differences in the ABD methods and the related performance and blood parameters owing to different storage conditions-cryopreservation (CP) and cold storage (CS)-and different storage durations. The literature research resulted in 34 original articles. The majority of currently published studies employed CS during ABD. This contrasts to the applied storage technique in professional sports, which was mainly reported to be CP. The second outcome of the literature research revealed large differences in the storage durations applied, which were in the range of one day to 17 weeks between blood sampling and re-infusion, which might affect recovery of the red blood cell mass and thus performance outcome related to ABD. Data revealed that performance parameters were positively affected by ABD when a minimal storage duration of four weeks was adhered. This article identified a need for further research that reflect common ABD practice and its real effects on performance parameters, but also on related blood parameters in order to develop valid and reliable ABD detection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marijke Grau
- Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, 50677 Cologne, Germany;
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Thevis M, Kuuranne T, Geyer H. Annual banned-substance review: Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2019/2020. Drug Test Anal 2020; 13:8-35. [PMID: 33185038 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Analytical chemistry-based research in sports drug testing has been a dynamic endeavor for several decades, with technology-driven innovations continuously contributing to significant improvements in various regards including analytical sensitivity, comprehensiveness of target analytes, differentiation of natural/endogenous substances from structurally identical but synthetically derived compounds, assessment of alternative matrices for doping control purposes, and so forth. The resulting breadth of tools being investigated and developed by anti-doping researchers has allowed to substantially improve anti-doping programs and data interpretation in general. Additionally, these outcomes have been an extremely valuable pledge for routine doping controls during the unprecedented global health crisis that severely affected established sports drug testing strategies. In this edition of the annual banned-substance review, literature on recent developments in anti-doping published between October 2019 and September 2020 is summarized and discussed, particularly focusing on human doping controls and potential applications of new testing strategies to substances and methods of doping specified the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2020 Prohibited List.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Thevis
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Hans Geyer
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
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