„Dopingová“ kauza R. K.: Co jsou biologické pasy

R. K. (age 31 years in 2017) is a professional cyclist. He has been under investigation for possible blood doping after biological passport anomalies were detected by the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF). These relate to the time between March 2011 until August 2011 and from April 2012 until the end of the 2012 Giro d’Italia. He claimed that treatment for hypothyroidism was responsible for the irregular blood values, therefore he was cleared by the Czech Olympic Committee. Both the UCI and WADA were dissatisfied with the outcome and appealed the matter to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). R. K. always maintained he is innocent, with his explanation for his unusual blood values centred around a claim that he used the substitute hormone L-Thyroxine as treatment for an under-active thyroid. L-Thyroxine is not on the WADA banned list and does not require a therapeutic use exemption. The statement of UCI after CAS appeal was short on detail and the UCI said that it could not comment any further at this point in time. “Based on the availability of newly obtained information, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have come to the conclusion that, in accordance with the applicable UCI anti-doping rules and WADA Athlete Biological Passport operating guidelines, there is at this stage no basis to proceed further,” said the statement. UCI and WADA have therefore decided to withdraw their appeals. Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. The use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) or other illicit synthetic oxygen carriers to enhance performance in cycling is common. Also recent resurgence of blood transfusions for blood doping is likely due to the introduction of efficient EPO detection methods. When asked how important the CAS case could be for the UCI and its Biological Passport, UCI president dismissed some recent doubts about its validity. The UCI’s move to appeal at CAS wasn’t the first time a biological case has ventured to the Swissbased sporting court. However, the UCI has never lost an appeal to CAS concerning the Biological Passport. The blood module of the athlete biological passport aims to detect any form of blood doping. However, The case of Czech cyclist R. K. proves that there are stiil needed further steps for it’s correct validation and aplication, mainly to prevent false accusation of athletes. There is one principle paradox of blood doping in cycling: there is no scientific basis from which to conclude that rHuEPO has performance-enhancing properties in elite cyclists.