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Gene manipulation and improvement of athletic performances: new strategies in blood doping

G Lippi, G C Guidi

Ist Chimica Microscopia Clinica, Dip Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Verona University, Italy

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Lippi
Ist Chimica Microscopia Clinica, Dip Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Verona University, Laboratorio Analisi, Osp Policlinico Bg Roma, Piazzale Scuro, 10, Verona 31734, Italy; ulippi@tin.it

Keywords: blood doping; gene doping; erythropoietin; hypoxia; athletic performances

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Aerobic athletic performances are greatly improved by optimisation of mechanisms of oxygen transport and delivery to peripheral tissues and muscles. There are both lawful and banned methods to achieve better muscular oxygenation; of these, the administration of erythropoiesis stimulating molecules, namely human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo) or NESP, has been widely used by endurance athletes since the early 1990s.¹ However, the introduction of a reliable laboratory test to detect blood doping with rHuEpo or derivatives has forced athletes to rely on alternative techniques, including blood and gene doping.^1,2

The recent discovery of a novel family of proteins called hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) has increased our understanding of the intricate mechanisms of the response to hypoxia, as occurs in tissues that in some circumstances have to deal with increased oxygen demand, such as hard working muscles. HIFs are transcription factors which modulate the activity of a variety of genes in conditions of . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lippi, G., Franchini, M., Guidi, G. C. (2008). Doping in competition or doping in sport?. Br Med Bull 86: 95-107 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lippi, G, Franchini, M, Guidi, G C (2005). Cobalt chloride administration in athletes: a new perspective in blood doping?. Br. J. Sports. Med. 39: 872-873 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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An ethical argument prompted by gene manipulation and improvement of athletic performances

Andrew Murray

BJSM Online, 4 Nov 2004 [Full text]