Blood Doping
Blood doping does not involve the use of drugs. Blood is injected into the body to increase the number of red blood cells. Athletes usually inject their own blood, which has been removed earlier and stored, but it can come from another person. The athlete will often train at altitude before he or she removes some of their blood. This is to increase the number of red blood cells that are needed to carry oxygen to the working muscles by the use of haemoglobin. Blood doping makes the blood able to carry oxygen to the working muscles. This increases aerobic endurance, which is an effect that can also be gained by training at altitude.