Cyclists' favorite drug falls flat in trial

Cyclists' favorite drug falls flat in trial -

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Summary

In June, Dutch scientists have completed the largest study yet whether erythropoietin (EPO), a popular drug among professional cyclists, really improves athletic performance. Researchers recruited 48 amateur cyclists trained and gave them either EPO or placebo for 8 weeks. Participants were subjected to seven endurance tests, culminating in the Mont Ventoux race in France, one of the mythical climbs in cycling. Researchers are currently analyzing the results, but have already shared one of the main results: Riders on EPO were faster than those on placebo. Others have trouble believing that the EPO would do nothing on the basis of previous studies and stories of athletes. But they cheer the team to submit EPO in a large randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in medicine.

• ↵ * in Leiden, the Netherlands

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