For Some Endurance Athletes, the Pressure to Perform at the Highest Level Means That the Temptation to Gain Unfair Aerobic Training from Ergogenic Aids, Despite the Dangers, Becomes Too Great. Identify 2 Physiological

Blood doping is the first type of ergogenic aid that an endurance athlete such as a marathon runner may use. Blood doping is re-injecting red blood cells into the bloodstream that have previously been removed from the athlete. Whilst the blood was removed the body created more blood in order to compensate for the loss. This means that when the blood is returned there are a lot more red blood cells in the circulatory system. The effect of blood doping is that due to the increased number of red blood cells, more oxygen can be carried by haemoglobin to the working muscles. The benefits of bloody doping are that aerobic capacity is increased and fatigue is delayed making the endurance athlete able to sustain a high level of performance throughout their event/race. The risks of blood doping are that: blood viscosity is increased leading to a lower heart rate and clotting causing heart failures and strokes; due to transfusion practises, HIV and other diseases could also be a risk; also, dehydration causes a decrease in plasma volume which consequently increases blood viscosity leading to the previously mentioned problems. The final risk/drawback is that blood doping is banned. This means that if an athlete were to be found using the process they would loose their title and right to compete facing disqualification.
Human growth hormone, HGH, is produced in the anterior pituitary gland and promotes growth in humans. When taken to improve performance, it is thought that fat free mass is increase; as are: blood glucose levels; bone growth; capability to heal soft tissues and the lipolysis breakdown of FFA’s. The effect on the performer is therefore thought to be an increase in muscle mass and strength. This is positive for an endurance athlete because if their muscles are bigger and stronger they should be able to work for longer and not fatigue as easily. The risks of HGH are that hypertrophy of internal organs could also take place as the growth is not limited to a particular part of the body; muscle and joint weakness can also occur – which would be a serious problem for a marathon runner; hypertension and heart disease can occur shortening the athletes career; diabetes can occur; bone thickening and deformities can happen with unknown possibly career ending consequences; and glucose intolerance can occur – this is obviously a problem for a marathon runner as it is a main source of energy.
Altitude training is a very popular training method for marathon runners; this is because, due to the hypoxic conditions, EPO production is increased, reducing red blood cell production. This means that when the athlete returns to sea level, their oxygen carrying capacity is increased consequently increasing their aerobic based performance. Blood doping would be favourable to altitude training in most athletes eyes as the effects of altitude training will only remain for a few days once returning to sea level, this means that you will have to do it right before a competition. However, altitude training is, at this moment in time, not banned, even though there are a lot of questions regarding its ethicality. With regards to HGH, altitude training does not produce similar effects so a comparison between advantages is difficult. HGH will help improve the marathon runner’s performance with regards to the muscular system whereas altitude training will improve performance with the circulatory system. Altitude training is probably a lot safer as there are not as many dangerous side effects.
Whilst both HGH and blood doping would probably have better and more long lasting positive effects for a marathon runner, altitude training is the only non-banned option. This means that it depends on how much of a risk the athlete is willing to take, both HGH and blood doping come with serious, life-threatening side effects but will both also improve performance dramatically.