I understand how the EPO test works and why it's so hard to catch cheats but i was wondering about red blood cell counts. is that what they test for to catch people blood doping? i've heard that there is a very small range of RBCs and that because they live 120days or so that it should be detectable that way. my thought was that maybe within that range is a substancial physiological benefit but i don't know. can anyone elighten me further on this subject?
also, what do people believe the percent of eilite runners using drugs is?
(conversation came up with a friend of mine who is a medical student and won't believe that many eilite athletes are on drugs).