The most recent case in the sporting sector’s battle against performance enhancing drugs occurred in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has had his bronze medal stripped from him on the back of admitting to the usage of meldonium.
Meldonium is just one of the many Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED’s) that are banned from sports, with the IAAF taking drastic measures in stripping the Russian’s medals from him. The effects of meldonium are stated to be widening of the arteries which facilitates blood flow to the muscles, therefore allowing more oxygen and other nutrients to access them, heightening the length of time the muscles can last. It is usually used to treat conditions such as angina, chronic heart failure, and other cardiovascular disorders.
The exposing of Krushelnitskky received bemusement and increased criticism as the heightened endurance effects of meldonium would better be used in a sport or even that required more intensity from the muscles than curling demands.
The recent revelation spearheads the latest case of athletes using PED’s, with previous offenders including Mario Sharapova, Lance Armstrong, and Justin Gatlin. The side effects of many PED’s can also be uncomfortable and life threatening; varying from aches in the joints, to heart arrhythmias.
Sports team doctors, individual coaches and medical advisors to sportspeople share the responsibility to ensure their athletes comply with the rules of their given sport. Taking that into consideration, as a trained phlebotomist, a career in this field could be applicable. Nevertheless, an awareness of the implications certain medicines and drugs can have is vital when it comes to blood transfusions.
PTS provides phlebotomy training courses in many cities across the UK, which could suit the training requirements of many organisations such as hospital staff, care workers, and university students. To find out when the next course is being rolled out in your city visit our book a course page. Alternatively, if you would like to speak with one of us for more information, visit our contact page.