The Wire

Drugs at the Olympics are nothing new, and nor is talk of EPO. EPO is a performance enhancer used by long distance runners and cyclists, notoriously those competing in the annual Tour de France. EPO occurs naturally in the body, and regulates red blood cell production. By using it artificially, athletes produce more red blood cells, and in turn produce more oxygen, which allows them to maintain energy levels for longer. While blood doping is illegal and now testable, there are many legal drugs which will be far more extensively used in this year’s Olympics.