The impact of long-haul air travel on variables of the athlete's biological passport.
BACKGROUND
Dehydration, fluid shifts or changes in coagulation occurring during air travel can trigger distinct reactions in the haematological system. Athletes are concerned that these effects might impair sporting performance, increase the risk of thrombosis or cause abnormalities in blood values that might be mistaken for doping in the 'Athlete's biological passport' (ABP) a longitudinal monitoring of haematological variables in antidoping. The aim of the study was to investigate key variables of the ABP before and after a long-haul flight in athletes.


METHODS
Fifteen endurance athletes were submitted to ABP blood samples in the morning before and after arrival of an 8 h flight. Two additional samples were obtained in the morning and the evening 3 days after the travel. Twelve nontravelling subjects served as controls.


RESULTS
Haemoglobin concentration was higher before than after travel in athletes (+0.5 g/dL, P = 0.038), a similar pattern was observed 3 days after the travel. No difference was observed in the control group. Reticulocyte% did not show any significant changes in neither of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed changes are in line with normal diurnal variations. There is no indication that travel will affect haematological variables in way that might be mistaken for blood doping.
Department of Sports Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Y O
YO
Schumacher
Department of Sports Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
F
F
Klodt
Department of Sports Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
D
D
Nonis
Department of Sports Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
T
T
Pottgiesser
Anti-Doping Laboratory, Doha, Qatar.
M
M
Alsayrafi
Aspire Academy, Doha, Qatar.
P C
PC
Bourdon
Aspire Academy, Doha, Qatar.
S C
SC
Voss
D000328:Adult; D064870:Air Travel; D056352:Athletes; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins