The race to keep up with blood doping sports cheats

Scientists have developed tests to detect nearly every type of doping in sport, but they have not yet perfected a way to prevent all forms of the banned practice of blood doping.

It involves athletes storing and transfusing their own blood - or the blood of others - before exercise or competition, to increase the number of red blood cells in the body.

By manipulating their oxygen-carrying capacity, cheats can increase their stamina and speed.

It is possible to detect some - but not all - types of blood doping.

Video produced by Thomas Hannen.

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