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In the NYTimes today, Frankie Andreu admits to using EPO, a performance-enhancing drug, for a couple of races. Andreu was a long-time teammate of hometown cyclist Lance Armstrong in past Tours de France and other races. Earlier this year, he and his wife testified in court that Armstrong had told doctors 10 years ago that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. No doctors confirmed their statements, however, and the case they testified for (between Armstong and SCA Promotions) was later settled out of court.
The most poignant sentence in the article: "Nearly a dozen people in cycling declined to be interviewed about the Andreus, saying they feared for their jobs because of Armstrong’s influence in the sport." That's a little ominous.
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What the heck is EPO, and where can I get some?
Erythropoietin = EPO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythropoietin
It's a bona fide drug given to cancer patients after chemotherapy and patients with some types of anemia, both conditions that can cause a drop in the number of red blood cells. RBCs are the cells that carry oxygen in the blood. If you are healthy, and take EPO, the rise in RBCs can give you added stamina.
LMM, maybe you can help. Why has nobody ever discussed the possibility to EPO or human growth hormone or steroids leading to cancer? Is there no link?
I'm not a research scientist, but as far back as Lyle Alzado's early demise (football player for Broncos and Raiders almost 30 years ago) due to a malignant brain tumor, it's made people wonder. He was probably the first professional athlete to admit to using steroids and to speak out against them, describing the horrific side effects and his belief that they caused his cancer.
I hope I did not mislead in my post that EPO's use in cancer patients means that it causes cancer. The drug speeds up the production of important blood cells to help patients have more energy after the exhaustive effects of chemo.
My guess is that no one in the medical community will stand up and confirm this until studies are done to prove it, and without a commercial motivator (i.e., $$$ to be made), what drug company would want to fund that study?