Erythropoietin on cycling performance

Abstract

Substantial evidence indicates that augmentation of haemoglobin levels by elevated altitude, medication, or blood transfusion improves peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and endurance performance.1 However, the recent investigation by Heuberger and colleagues2 concludes that erythropoietin exerts virtually no impact on performance by subelite cyclists, resulting in a debate3 in connection with which we would like to raise two concerns.