OLD SMTC SOB wrote:
Stupid studies`, wrote:
There are NO valid studies showing that synthetic EPO helps anyone to run faster, than they would without it or with some natural means and no drugs.
ALL of such studies are only valid for confirmation bias, but not for anything truthful.
The same is true for ALL drug studies.
The issue with most drug related studies and their effect on human performance is that there are far to many variables to control for them to be valid. Where one is at in their training cycle is a huge problem that is difficult to control, as is psychological state. "I'm in great shape and taking EPO but damn I just felt like sh!t today when they did my performance test.) And then when you try to generalize your results to many different athlete populations (IE to a group of world class, lifetime altitude adjusted athletes) it creates further problems. Not to mention that changes in various bio-markers (V02 Max, Hct, Hgb, plasma volume, mitochondrial size etc. may or may not equate to improved performance (see above). Which is really what the intent of the thread was I believe, to discuss effect on actual performance in the athlete subset to which Mr. Canova was referencing. Which neither the study design nor data in the study address.
We don't have a bioenergetics/biomechanics model that the general public can relate to. There are researchers who do research this and apply it, but it will not find favour with those who have a quasi religious belief in magic potions.