Don’t Dope, Athletes

New doping tests that could be used at the 2012 London Olympics should ward off cheaters better than ever before.

Written byJef Akst

| 1 min read

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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, RAE SLATER

Scientists are developing new tests for human growth hormone (HGH) and autologous blood doping—a technique involving drawing one’s blood, storing it, and transfusing it back into the body to increase the number of circulating red blood cells and oxygen—that should be available in time to be used at the 2012 Olympic Games, held in London.

Previously, HGH tests were only able to detect doping that occurred within a few days of testing, and “blood doping has been nearly impossible to detect,” ScienceInsider reported. The new HGH test expands the surveillance window for detecting misuse, while the new test for autologous blood doping uses RNA profiles to prevent athletes from avoiding detection by diluting their blood with saline.

The upcoming games will be the "riskiest ever" ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
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Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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