Studia Kinanthropologica

Studia Kinanthropologica 2016, 17(3):451-463

Doping in the shadow of altitude training in the past seven olympic cycles

J. Suchý

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Fakulta tělesné výchovy a sportu, Katedra pedagogiky, psychologie a didaktiky sportu, oddělení didaktiky sportu

This article deals with searching for possible relationships between doping and training at high altitudes in the last seven Olympic cycles (1998 - 2016) with forecast untill 2020. During the monitored period, altitude has gradually become an integral component of sports training, particularly for elite athletes, with the benefit perceived in preparing for competitions at both high and low altitudes. In preparations for the Olympics in Barcelona and Atlanta the significance of altitude in elite sport was not very high. In connection with the introduction of tests for erythropietin leading up to the Sydney games and the holding of two Winter Olympics at higher altitudes (Salt Lake City and Turin), the importance of altitude increased markedly. From 2000 to 2012 a number of (primarily) endurance athletes moved to higher altitudes. In connection with this, coaches and training experts further specialised the training variant live-high, train-high (including some training at sea level). After the introduction of biological passports in 2009 there are certain doubts as to whether declared altitude training does not partially serve to cover up for illegal means of achieving blood count changes. Given the increasingly stringent anti-doping checks and demands on athlete performance, an increased representation of hypoxic preparation in the plans of primarily elite athletes can be expected.

Keywords: sports training; high altitude; doping; WADA; Olympic Games

Published: September 30, 2016  Show citation