With all this buzz about the use of EPO in cycling in recent years and how lab injectable EPO was virtually undetectable until very recently (2003), plus how the US Anti-Doping Agency, The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and others Anti-Doping Doping laboratories around the world suspect that athletes are freely using performance-enhancing drugs, namely EPO; some officials are beginning to openly vent their frustrations with the shortcomings (lack of funding) of the aforementioned agencies.

With recent reports of several athletes contracting mononucleosis, I was curious and decided to do an internet search to see if there was a possibility of a connection between EPO and mononucleosis and came across this amazing report (excerpt below).

Author: Paul Schick, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine; Research Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Drexel University School of Medicine:

“Pure red cell aplasia

• Respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, primary atypical pneumonia, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, and viral hepatitis can trigger pure red blood cell aplasia.
• Importantly, related EPO appears to be a rare complication when considering that approximately 3 million patients are treated with EPO worldwide. However, be aware of the possibility of this complication. In 2002, Casadevall et al recommended that patients receiving EPO should be screened for anti-EPO antibodies as soon as possible after the onset of unexplained anemia.
• Darbepoietin alfa (Aranesp) has been recently introduced and has a different carbohydrate structure than endogenous EPO. Patients receiving this agent should be closely monitored.
• Obviously, the administration of EPO for athletic performance should be avoided. “http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1967.htm

“- Medical side effects

EPO commonly “thickens” the blood, causing additional circulatory stress and also blocks (clots) the smaller blood vessels. The use of EPO is dangerous as it stresses the elements in the circulation and is often enough to precipitate systemic failures that would otherwise function normally under natural levels of stress. “

http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/csa/vol56/fourdrug.htm

“What are the side effects of the misuse of EPO?

While the proper use of EPO has enormous therapeutic benefit in treating anemia related to cancer or kidney disease, its misuse can create serious health risks for athletes who use this substance simply to gain an advantage. competitive. It is well known that EPO, by thickening the blood, leads to an increased risk of various life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease, strokes, and brain or lung embolisms. The misuse of recombinant human EPO can also cause autoimmune diseases with serious health consequences. “

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/dynamic.ch2?pageCategory.id=626

Does this mean that if you have mononucleosis, you have used EPO? No, it could be viral, but if you’re an athlete, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and other anti-doping labs around the world will have their red flags waving for months!

With this information, I became concerned, because if there are tennis players, champions, champions who are champions or not, before they think about using EPO, they must be aware of the consequences.

Why risk your life for a medal, a cup, or a few more dollars? Players and athletes, just say NO and stay away from EPO. Your health and life are more important to all of us than if you win.

Sincerely

Sergio Cruz