Abstract
1764 International Ski Federation has a rule to exlude men with hemoglobin concentration (Hb) above 185 g·l-1 and women with 165 g·l-1 from race to avoid possible health risks and observed extreme manipulation with Hb-mass. It has been argued that water loss during race would increase Hb and give false positive results if Hb is measured after the race. In the Finnish Championships the effect of 10 km (n=17) and 50 km(n=12 finished+6 broke off) ski-race on Hb and hematocrit (Hct) was studied in elite male cross-country skiers (age 24±4 yrs, VO2max 78±5 ml·kg-1 ·min-1). Venous blood samples were taken 120-45 min before as well as 15 and 60 min (10 km) or 15-60 min (50 km) after the ski-race and Hb (g·l-1), Hct (%), total protein content (S-Prot, g·l-1) and erythropoietin (S-EPO, mU·ml-1) were analysed. TableTableFrom pre to post60min the fluid intake was 0.9±0.3 l (10 km) and 2.7±0.8 l (50 km). Six skiers who broke off the 50 km race after 25±10 km drank 1.1±0.6 l and had similar Hb and Hct changes as those who finished the race. We conclude that sampling after the race would not give false positive Hb-values and that the decrease may be due either to shifts in intra- and extracellular fluid balance and/or to fluid intake.
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