Dan Fleeman (Team Raleigh) blood profile results will be posted here throughout the season. Below are Dan’s first set of results, undertaken by Dr Michale Stokes at Staffordshire Hospital, England. We have added additional comments and analysis from an independent doctor.
Because Fleeman has moved to Team Raleigh (from Cervelo), a UCI Continental team, they fall outside the UCI’s bio-passport program, although will still subject to tests at events. For the cycling public we see the passport program as solely to weed out the cheats – but Fleeman has often used his blood profile results to analyze the findings himself and found them a useful part of his training program and to monitor his health.
Bike Pure feel this is a fantastic step one rider has taken to attempt in his own way to rebuild the trust between professional cyclists and the fan base. With over 60 positive dope tests in 2009, our sport is clearly damaged – but it is not broken. As the new generation move in and take over – we have a chance to repair. Fleeman’s efforts, if repeated throughout the peloton, it would mean that all riders’ performances would be transparent. All riders would be free from question and doubt.
There is no black and white with individual’s results as we are all different. But we are the same species. So there are set parameters where as a human being breathing the same oxygen mix will score within. It is for this reason that Bike Pure believe that the results of all professional riders under the passport program should be available for examination. As the passport program does bi-annually weed out some cheats, the open threat of results being scrutinized by the worldwide sports medical community, may add to the anti doping deterrent.
We must excise caution for all interpretation of the enclosed results. This should be undertaken by medical personnel not the average man in the bunch. But to give an insight into the returned figures, the following will help translate blood test results to determine ‘normal’ values.
We must understand that blood is made up of three factors: Red blood cells (RBC) White blood cells (WBC) And Platelets.
Of these we are primarily interested in the RBC that carry the Oxygen (Fuel) to the muscles. Artificial increase of this value is what will result in performance gain.
Fig. 1 FBC:
We need to understand HB (line 3) and Packed cell volume (line 4) HB is the Hemoglobin, is the most important as it is the protein that transports oxygen from the lungs, to the rest of the body where it releases the oxygen for cell use. An abnormally high level of Hemoglobin is a major advantage to the endurance athlete.
Packed cell volume is the hematocrit. When the blood sample is spun in a centrifuge, the hematocrit is the total amount (as percentage) of red blood cells in the sample. The more REB present, the more oxygen. The medical range set is 40-54%. Average male human is 45-47% and the UCI currently ‘ALLOW’ up to 50%. Dan’s result is sitting at 46.5%. This level of hematocrit in the blood sample is then compared with the long-term level for that athlete (to allow for individual variations) to produce a normal/average control value. Any hematocrit of a level of 49% and above causes an increased risk of blood clots resulting in strokes or heart attacks.
The last factor to be of interest on this page would be MCV – Mean Cell Volume, as it says the average size of the individual RBC (bigger cells carry more O2- slower).
Fig 2 B12
These results indicate the level of the crucial ingredients which constitute the production of blood in the body. This also makes us aware of the benefit to the blood passport program. Actually giving the athlete a regular view to how his body is coping with the stress of competition.
Here Dan’s Vitamin B12 and his total Iron stores (Serum Ferritin) result is outside the guide parameters and would indicate only either a high dairy/meat diet or regular multivitamin with iron and B12. Levels recommended for the beginning of a racing season.
Fig 3
Liver function tests (LFTs)
These are designed to give information about the condition of the patient’s liver. Again not an indicator of doping but will give the athlete an idea of efficiency of this vital process which cleans blood and stores glycogen. Dan’s result of 51 would indicate that he is ‘well nourished’.
The next test results are the Clinical biochemistry of the blood indicating if the person has healthy levels of potassium, sodium etc. Where we would be interested would be the ‘serum testosterone’. Of the three types of naturally occurring steroid, testosterone is anabolic, (meaning it builds up bone and muscle mass.) As well as allowing the body to repair faster than the average person’s, Testosterone increases aerobic capacity and hence any rise outside the average parameters would indicate doping, Dan sits neatly at 17.6.
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