It is now well recognised that the uncontrolled use of EPO can be dangerous. When a doctor is considering prescribing EPO for the treatment of severe anaemia, there is a specific evaluation of the benefits and dangers of this type of treatment.

In someone who already has normal levels of red blood cells, use of EPO can lead to increased thickening (or viscosity) of the blood.

* Blood thickening from non-medical use of EPO may lead to clotting, thrombosis, heart attack and stroke.

* Blood thickening from non-medical use of EPO may be further exaggerated by the dehydration that frequently occurs in training and endurance sports.

EPO has been implicated in the sudden deaths of several athletes.

Other possible problems experienced by users of EPO include:

* Rapid increases in blood pressure when the substance is introduced too quickly

* Convulsions

* Influenza-like symptoms, bone aches and shivering following injections

* Skin reactions, allergy-like swelling at the site of injection

* Liver or pancreatic damage

* Increased risk of developing liver or lymphatic cancers

1985 major usage in Tour de France

Lance Armstrong

2.    Side effects: Nerve, muscle, or joint pain.

Swelling due to fluid in the body's tissues 

Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Numbness and tingling of the skin.

High cholesterol levelss

 

3.       Growth hormones are commonly used the the body building industry often to speed up muscle growth to attain higher strengths.

4.       Terry newton was rugby union player who played for England, he had recently admitted to using human growth hormones to increase his performance.  He has now received a ban from the rugby association and cannot continue in his dreams.

What is it and how does it work:

Synthetic modifications of testosterone, (testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone is all people however for females it is in lower quanities)

These drugs make muscles bigger, help athletes recover from a hard workout which then leads to athletes to work harder and more frequently. Through supplemental use of testosterone, when exogenous testosterone enters the body natural production of the hormone is no longer necessary and production will necessarily come to a stop.
 
 As testosterone is produced in the testicles in men, once exogenoustestosterone enters the body and natural production comes to a halt thetesticles shrink; however, once exogenous use is discontinued and naturalproduction begins again the testicles return to their normal size.

 

What are the side effects/dangers?

 

Whilst testosterone is used to enhance performance in sport it also has negative side effects that include: 

-Acne or oily skin

-increased risk of developing prostate cancer

-increased risk of blood clot 

-stimulation of prostate tissue 

 \ X��a�