According to Seppälä, blood tanking does not show up in a standard doping test if the athlete has used his or her blood taken earlier while practicing at a high altitude. However, the procedure can be countered by means of an Athlete Biological Passport.
Blood doping or tanking is the misuse of certain techniques and substances to increase one’s red blood cell mass. This allows the body to transport more oxygen to muscles and therefore increase stamina and performance.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) started the use of Athlete Biological Passports in 2009. It allows anti-doping agencies to follow a competitor’s blood. In practice biological variables in an athlete’s blood are monitored over a long period of time to determine any changes.
Finland’s anti-doping agency is currently keeping an eye on dozens of athletes including some Olympic performers. It is also watching co-operation between coaches and some athletes.
More blood doping cases likely
In addition to Seppälä, sports physician Tapio Kallio says an upswing in blood doping is likely as the risk in manipulating one’s own blood is smaller than compared to the use, for example, of the EPO hormone (erythropoietin).
In the view of Timo Seppälä, an athlete can take a small amount of blood while training at a high altitude camp. Using the necessary equipment, he or she can screen the best red blood cells and later inject them intravenously prior to a competition. He adds this method can give a long distance runner an advantage of up to half a minute.
Seppälä predicts further doping scandals in Finland resulting from the use of blood tanking.
“It could be that many try their luck with such performance-enhancing techniques but a wider use of athlete biological passports will help combat this in the long term,” says Seppälä.
Blood tanking was outlawed in Finland in 1985.