Mr Philosopher,
You seemed to be interested in this topic, I have a good thread that could answer your question and will give you a good deep thought about this problem.
Read the thread in
www.mariusbakken.com/forum2000/default.asp
In the training section, open page 2.
Author : Waz
Subject : what is cheating ?
Number of replies : 115 posts
Number of readers : 1207 people
Summary:
The dicussion about the tent only leaded to EPO, the tent is just a hiding place for elites to get away from EPO. Tent would raise the blood cells and in this respect it has the same effect like EPO. And this was the last posted by Roadrunner :
<<...taking EPO which is advantageous for endurance will last much longer because red blood cells have a life span of around 120 days. The effects of EPO are quite long lasting in this respect.>> Jerome
This can explain (correct me if i was wrong)the reason why EPO is used mainly training periods, than just a mere drug before competion(s) period(s). They take it, they train hard, and they stop it, 3 weeks before competiton to nort accuse positive. But the effect is there, by reaching a training capacity that enables to great/top performances.
And this will eventually explain also why they test positive while they are not in great shape condition for the moment the accuse positive. They are working for the future
-Roadrunner