butchmcdick
Post Whore
- Messages
- 52,051
Opinion split over calf blood injection benefits
Updated 3 Jul 2008, 9:52am
PHOTO: Reports suggest the Manly Sea Eagles are allegedly employing the controversial performance enhancing technique. (Stefan Postles: Getty Images)When the Olympic Games begin next month, there is little doubt they will be accompanied by questions about performance enhancing drugs.
But in Australia some of the stars of rugby league and AFL are already raising eyebrows with a new performance enhancing technique - they are injecting calf blood to help them recover faster from injuries.
The Manly Sea Eagles are again near the top of the NRL table this year and reports suggest some of that high performance is down to the use of the calf blood extract.
Actovegin is injected into the player who then supposedly benefits through improved stamina and if injured, the player uses the substance to recover faster.
Robin Parisotto is a scientist specialising in sport and says the results of the technique are yet to be substantiated.
"The benefits are two-fold. Whether they actually work or not, no-one has actually put it to the test under actual scientific study to prove it," he said.
Mr Parisotto believes the legality of the technique is a major drawcard for athletes.
"Any drug that is not banned will be a source of temptation for any athlete and any drug or supplement or pill or potion - every athlete will look at it as a potential source or method to improve their performance," he said.
But Mr Parisotto admits he would not expect athletes to be taking it if it did not have a positive effect.
"That is absolutely correct and with any substance, whatever, an athlete is not going to continue to use it if it certainly detracts from their performance," he said.
Mr Parisotto says there have been examples of side effects from the technique.
"My mind goes back to one of the cyclists in the Tour de France 2003. A Spanish cyclist by the name of Jesus Manzano who took Actovegin," he said.
"It was a concoction of Actovegin with caffeine and a few other drugs and he claimed that after he took that concoction which included Actovegin, soon after he began the race he actually collapsed during one of the hill climbs.
"He put it down to the fact that the concoction had actually caused his collapse."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-07-02/opinion-split-over-calf-blood-injection-benefits/2491314
It's all about dat calf blood boi
