WHY DO ATHLETES TAKE EPO?
Athletes get an extra edge if they are able to get more oxygen to their muscles. By taking synthetic EPO, athletes can boost their red blood cell count and are able to supply their muscles with oxygen for a longer amount of time. Imagine oxygen as the fuel necessary to make the muscles work most effectively–EPO essentially gives the athlete more fuel for their muscles. This leads to increased performance and an unfair advantage over competitors. Endurance athletes who use EPO can increase their the oxygen carrying capacity of their red blood cells by as much as 7 to 10 percent!
