How Is Blood Spinning Not Doping?

With the news of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez undergoing the new blood spinning treatment to help heal the injuries in his right knee and left shoulder, many, including myself, ask the question, "How is this not considered doping?"

However, if you look closely at the procedure and compare it to the banned blood doping, there are many differences.

Blood Doping

Blood doping is a process of increasing an athlete's red blood cells prior to a competition. Blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the athlete's body and especially the muscles. By increasing the amount of red blood cells, blood doping allows the muscles to work more efficiently and minimizes muscle fatigue during competition. In this way, blood doping enhances the athlete's performance.

Blood doping can be done in one of two ways. The first way involves an athlete having a portion of his or her own blood drawn. A centrifuge is then used to separate out the red blood cells. These are placed into storage. It takes your body about three weeks to then replace the red blood cells that were removed. Prior to a competition, the doping athlete then transfuses the removed red blood cells back into his or her body, greatly increasing the amount of red blood cells.

While this self-donation is the preferred method, an athlete can also use donor red blood cells. This eliminates the need to wait for three weeks while the red blood cells are replaced.

The other option used to increase an athlete's red blood cells uses a synthetic hormone known as erythropoietin, or EPO. This hormone works with the body to increase the production of red blood cells.

Blood Spinning

Blood spinning is a totally different procedure that actually works the opposite of blood doping. While blood doping is designed to increase the red blood cells, blood spinning actually removes red cells. A person will have his or her blood removed, but this time the blood is spun down to remove the red cells and develop a concentration of the platelets. When platelet-rich plasma is created, the enzyme thrombin and calcium are then added to create a gel-like substance.

The platelets then begin releasing natural growth factors. This substance can then be applied to external wounds or injected into injured areas and works to speed up the healing process. While the World Anti-Doping Agency bans other natural growth factors, such as human growth hormones, this procedure for injury healing is allowed provided the injection is into a tendon. If a procedure requires it to be injected into muscle, an athlete must receive a special exemption. The idea behind this exemption is designed to prevent athletes from using the procedure to increase muscle strength.

Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and 20 year medical professional. Working now as a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for NFL and Olympics, she brings her love for both sports and the medical field together in her writing. Follow here on Twitter @fwcdeborah.