Lance the Doosh

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by spence

I believe the 50% hematacrit threshold testing was started in 1997. It was EPO at that time they couldn't detect yet. And as you've noted, now they test for plastic chemicals (clenbutyerol or something?) in the blood bags. According to Contador it's very common in beef



Did you read the Tyler Hamilton book? It was pretty interesting.

-spence

Clenbuterol is a steroid used to treat asthma and bronchitis, but unlike albuterol, its usage by athletes is totally prohibited. Can't get a medical exemption for it. It increases RBC count, too.

You could theoretically ingest it by eating tainted meat. The more likely explanation for Contador's little ooopsie is that it was a ghost positive. That is, Alberto was glowing when he had a pint withdrawn, and re-infused it in the later stages of the Tour that year. That would explain why only trace amounts were found.

They can also detect plastic particulates from blood bags now, too.

I haven't got around to reading that yet, but the reviews look good.