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Hematological changes following an Ironman triathlon: An antidoping perspective
Geoffrey D Miller1, Adam Beharry2, Masaru Teramoto3
1Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Ironman triathletes experience significant hematological changes post-race, including decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, potentially causing atypical Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) profiles. These findings aid in interpreting ABP data after endurance events.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Anti-doping
- Hematology
Background:
- Understanding physiological changes in athletes is vital for accurate Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) interpretation.
- The impact of long-distance triathlons on hematological parameters and plasma volume (PV) requires further characterization.
- Atypical ABP profiles can arise from physiological shifts post-competition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize hematological changes and plasma volume shifts after an Ironman triathlon.
- To assess the impact of these changes on Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) interpretation.
- To establish a timeline of expected hematological variations in triathletes post-event.
Main Methods:
- Collected complete blood count data from 19 Ironman triathletes before and for up to 7 days after the race.
- Analyzed changes in hemoglobin concentration (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and reticulocyte percentage (Ret%).
- Evaluated the occurrence of atypical Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) findings.
Main Results:
- Post-race, significant decreases in HGB and HCT were observed, peaking on day +2.
- Hemoglobin levels returned to baseline around day +5.
- Reticulocyte percentage increased 5-6 days post-race, and 32% of athletes showed atypical ABP findings.
Conclusions:
- Ironman triathlons induce transient hematological alterations and plasma volume shifts.
- These physiological changes can lead to atypical Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) profiles.
- Characterized timelines of these changes are crucial for reliable ABP interpretation in anti-doping.
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