Cunego's naturally elevated hematocrit

[freetunes]

presumably that means over 50% or close enough such that the 50% rule would create false positives if applied to him. In any event, they state he's allowed to race over 50%.

So, a few questions:

Anyone have any idea how they determine that someone has a naturally elevated hematocrit? (Historical test results back to your teens?
Extended tests over the course of a year?)

How high does your natural level have to be before they'll exempt you from the 50% rule? (47%? 49%? over 50?)

Finally, I've read that high testosterone levels raise hematocrit -- any idea if the naturally elevated h'crit population corresponds to the naturally elevated testosterone population?

Surprisingly, I couldn't find answers in the archives. Would have thought these issues would have been thoroughly threshed out in
1999.--Shayana Kadidal

[TommyD82]

Take a look here, this was a huge story in British cycling. Maybe theres some more info in the procycling archieves

Charley's father was also tested and found to have a naturally high level.
This case was well documented in the British cycling press.

[Baby D]

The place I had read about the link between testosterone supplementation and high h'crit was on an impotence message board (which came up on a search, I wasn't browsing!), where they were discussing a poster's statement that he had tested at >50% h'crit after taking testosterone (presumably to treat the impotence). And another poster said that was not uncommon. (Not much of a "reference,"
I know.)

Don't men have higher h'crit than women, across the board?--Shayana

[brickheadb]

According to Williams Hematology the normal range of men and women is:

Men: 42-50% with a mean of 46% (mine is usually 48%)
Women: 36-45% with a mean of 40%

Women also have a higher percentage of body fat and muscle tissue that generates slightly less power. There is no way that women can generate the sort of power it takes to race with men of the same weight.

[Mcgrupp33]

Less weight, too!

[Th]

Testosterone is involved in the production of RBC so a link is possible.

[Tazeko]

I think there is a product on the market for this. It's called EPO or something like that. Yes it would definitely even out the score a bit.

[Th]

Endurance training however tends to expand plasma volume far greater than the increase in RBC so hematocrit actually can be (and often is) lower in an endurance athlete. Seems backwards on the face of it.

[brickheadb]

One day you French will remember that we Americans don't like to register to read articles. If it was that important someone will quote it.

[Th]

The answer as to the procedure is located on the UCI website although it takes some searching. In short, a person needs to have 4 blood tests (specific parameters) over the course of 6 weeks. The results must include a urine specific gravity. In addition, a hematologist must certify the results and write a letter stating that the person is otherwise healthy and that the high HCT is naturally occurring. The UCI then sets a level for that person that cannot be exceeded. For example, a person with a high hematocrit of 52 might have his level set at 53. One can then not exceed his specific limit.

Here is the link..http://www.uci.ch/english/health_sante/docs_2003/UCI_certificate_2003.