elite sports – Seite 7

antidoping elite sports sports medicine pharmacology sports science monitoring

Challenges with the biological passport: from sampling to interpretation

In 2008, the World Anti-Doping Agency officially launched the biological passport. The first validated module to operate was the blood module to fight erythropoietin (EPO) and blood transfusion abuse. It has been quite efficient to catch some doped athletes, but above all, was very good in reducing the prevalence of doping. It is unclear if athletes stopped doping or have adapted and are taking micro doses of EPO or transfusing small blood volumes. More recently, the steroid module was released, but until now, the number of urine adverse passport cases is very low.

antidoping elite sports monitoring

Retesting the anti-doping samples: Best tool for deterrence?

Long term storage of the anti-doping samples and their reanalyses becomes today more and more a trend in the anti-doping community. The procedure has been implemented by the anti-doping authorities for the samples of the Tour de France and for the Olympic Games since Athens 2004 and has been always presented as a good tool to deter doping habits in top level sport. Recently, the World Anti-Doping Code introduced the possibility for anti-doping organizations to store the athletes’ samples up to ten years.

antidoping elite sports performance

Biological passport in athletes – role of the experts

The Athlete Biological Passport detects the effect of doping on the organism through longitudinal monitoring of biomarkers. The first quantitative analysis is performed by a software algorithm based on the Bayes theorem, taking into account previous values of the athlete. Profiles which have been found as abnormal with this technique are submitted for qualitative analysis to an expert panel regarding potential causes for the abnormality. Possible causes include analytical shortcomings, Pathologies, extremes of physiological regulation or doping.

antidoping elite sports sports and society team management

The CADF: a possible independent model for the management of a comprehensive Anti-Doping programme

Created in 2008, the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF), is a non-profit organization acting under Swiss law that became fully independent in 2013. Unique model for a sporting organization, the CADF’s role is to manage autonomously the Anti-Doping programme, on behalf of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The relationships between UCI and CADF are regulated by a contract signed by the CADF Foundation Board and UCI management. The CADF activities are conducted in compliance with the World Anti-Doping code [1], the UCI Anti-Doping rules [2].

coaching elite sports training load recovery training

Polarized training: a systematic review

Background: In high performance sports, a large variety of training and periodization concepts are used in daily training. However, at present it is unclear which combination of intensity, training duration and training frequency is superior thus producing the best adaptations. A promising, yet poorly scientifically investigated concept is the concept of a polarized training periodization. Methods: Prospective Studies, which examined polarized training compared to other training concepts, were identified from searches in Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, SciVerse Science Direct and Web of Science.

elite sports sports and society team management

Professional path of former Swiss elite ice hockey players – influence of sporting career on professional career

A career in elite sports requires a significant investment of time. Professional sportsmen, such as Swiss ice hockey players, are intensively involved in the system of high-performance sports. From junior years through to the end of a professional career, a high investment of time is necessary to develop the appropriate sporting achievements. Building an ice hockey career occurs at the same time as the school phase of vocational training. The high time-demand of sport training can affect the choices and occupational opportunities offered at this time. After the end of the professional career and hockey players are forced to enter ’normal’ working life.

elite sports performance sports and society sports medicine sports nutrition team management recovery

Sports and Ramadan – influence on endurance performance

The intermittent fasting of Ramadan could affect various aspects of body physiology and biochemistry important to athletic success. Sleep time may be shortened. Disturbance of psychomotor performance, impaired vigilance and slower reactions can be observed particularly during afternoon. Food intake is limited to night-time meals. Well disciplined athletes usually maintain energy balance unless daily energy expenditures are very high. Daytime fluid depletion is inevitable if athletes exercise in the heat.

elite sports sports medicine supplements

Seasonal variation of vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in world population and growing evidence shows that also athletes are affected. Vitamin D deficiency causes beside bone disorders, musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness and is associated with many other health disorders. For athletes in particular it may impair training and performance, prolong recovery and increase risk of injury. We therefore analyzed vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes focusing on prevalence according to age, gender, seasonal variations, indoor or outdoor sports, sunscreen use and vitamin D supplementation. Methods: This study was performed in a convenient sample of 655 Swiss Olympic athletes over one year.

antidoping elite sports performance sports medicine sports nutrition supplements

Iron Deficiency in sports – definition, influence on performance and therapy

Iron deficiency is frequent among athletes. All types of iron deficiency may affect physical performance and should be treated. The main mechanisms by which sport leads to iron deficiency are an increased iron demand, an elevated iron loss and a blockage of iron absorption due to hepcidin bursts. As a baseline set of blood tests, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular haemoglobin (MCH) and serum ferritin levels are the important parameters to monitor iron deficiency. In healthy male and female athletes >15 years, ferritin values <15µg/l are equivalent to empty, values from 15 to 30µg/l to low iron stores. Therefore a cut-off of 30µg/l is appropriate.

elite sports performance sports science

High relevance of difference in trail characteristics for average running times in orienteering

Background Orienteering takes place in a range of different areas including mountains and woodlands, whereby motoric and coordinative requirements on the orienteers differ strongly depending on the respective terrain. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in average speed of orienteers in three terrain types in Switzerland: Alps, Jura and Mittelland.