This could be the perfect excuse really in an effort to get sympathy. Maybe not. Weldon people on here may know more. Here is what I saw take from it what you will.
While in Flagstaff passing through the Center For High Altitude Training I was briefly shown blood test hematocrit results for an athlete in Mcmillan's group. Athletes in his group then were getting stipend help from the CHAT and offered free blood work or health care from the university there.
The hematocrit for the athlete was 51. It was an athlete who had made a race breakthrough at that time. Not sure what a hematocrit # of 51 means if anything.
You are right to ask the questions others won't ask. We will never get to the bottom of this if we don't ask.