bloodboosting

Bloodboosting refers to the practice of artificially increasing an athlete's red blood cell count. This is done to enhance oxygen transport to muscles, thereby improving endurance and performance. The most common method of bloodboosting is through blood doping, which involves either transfusing one's own stored blood (autologous) or another person's blood (homologous) back into the body. Another method is the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), such as synthetic EPO, which signal the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

The practice is illegal in most sports governed by organizations like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to concerns about fairness and the health risks involved. Potential side effects of bloodboosting can include blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and infections. Athletes caught bloodboosting face sanctions, including lengthy bans from competition. Detection methods have become more sophisticated over time, making it increasingly difficult for athletes to engage in this practice undetected. The pursuit of enhanced performance through methods like bloodboosting remains a persistent challenge in the integrity of sports.