POSTED 25 FEB 2002
Red blood cells as seen in a scanning electron microscope.
© James A. Sullivan.
Did you catch Johann Muehlegg of Spain slamming up the last hill in the men's 50-kilometer cross country ski race? For all we could tell, he was at the start, not the finish, of the grueling race.
It turns out that his medal-winning performance, together with those of Olga Danilova and Larisa Lazutina of Russia, were powered not just by grit and training, but also, allegedly, by darbepoetin.
This new performance-enhancing drug is similar to erythropoietin (EPO). Both drugs increase the body's output of red-blood cells, which carry oxygen to the muscles.
More red-blood cells help with those highly televised finish-line heroics.
Although the drug is not yet on the Olympic banned-drug list, it is so similar to EPO that Olympic officials yanked some -- but not all -- of the medals won by the three "winners." "Technically, they are Olympic champions," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee. "Morally, it's a totally different issue."
©2002, University of Wisconsin, Board of Regents.