Abstract

The effect of reinfusion of autologous blood (1350 ml) on exercise time over a specified distance (approx. 15 km) 4 weeks after phlebotomy (blood doping) were investigated in six well-trained cross-country skiers. An additional control group of six well-trained skiers was included in the study. Test races were performed before phlebotomy, 3 h after, and 14 days after reinfusion of blood. In each test race, the mean time of the control group was set to 100 and the time of the blood-doped subjects expressed in percentage of the control group mean time. In the first control race, the mean time of the subjects who were later blood doped was 99.4 of the control group. However, both 3 h and 14 days after the reinfusion of autologous blood, the mean time of the blood-doped subjects was significantly lower (94,1; P < 0.05; 96.3 P< 0.05, respectively) than the control group. In conclusion, reinfusion of autologous blood stored in a refrigerator for 4 weeks after phlebotomy significantly increased performance expressed as race time in cross-country skiers. The significantly increased performance was observed both 3 h and 14 days after reinfusion. Verf.-Referat