the moral reasoning of student athletes and athletic training students

stored. After a few weeks, normal levels of red blood cells are reestablished in the athlete’s body
(Sawka et al., 1996). When the red blood cells are infused back into the blood stream, the effect
is a dramatic increase in the mass of red blood cells thus increasing the capacity for oxygen
delivery.
While blood doping has some positive ergogenic effects, those engaged in the practice of
blood doping either fail to understand or choose to ignore the serious and potentially life
threatening side effects. An increase in red blood cell mass is directly associated with increased
blood viscosity which can potentially clog the blood vessels causing such conditions as stroke,
heart attack, deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolism (Sawka et al., 1996). Other inherent
risks are associated with any infusion or transfusion. According to the American College of
Sports Medicine position statement, “The risks from a homologous transfusion include
…reactions to blood type incompatibility on the basis of clerical error, minor transfusion
reactions including fever and body aches, transfusion-related acute lung injury, and bacterial
infection” (Sawka et al., 1996 p. 130). Furthermore, there is also the risk that a recipient could
contract any of a multitude of dangerous blood borne diseases transmitted through a homologous
transfusion.
Other Forms of Doping
Other forms of doping include the use of depressants such as beta-blockers,
therapeutically used as treatment for respiratory conditions such as asthma, narcotics, hormones,
and diuretics. Depressants have been used in events that require concentration such as archery, or
sharp shooting. Narcotics and diuretics are often used by wrestlers, gymnasts, figure skaters,
jockeys and sometimes cross country runners to lose weight.
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