Overview of EPO in Endurance Sports

EPO (recombinant human erythropoietin, or rHuEPO) is often used in endurance sports like cycling, running, and triathlons because it stimulates red blood cell production, improving oxygen delivery to muscles. This can enhance metrics like VO2 max (maximal oxygen uptake), time to exhaustion, and overall aerobic performance. Studies have shown improvements ranging from 4-10% in endurance tests, depending on dosage and duration.

Research indicates that even low doses can be effective, and there’s no clear dose-dependent escalation in benefits beyond certain levels—higher doses don’t always yield proportionally greater gains but increase risks. EPO’s effects can persist for weeks after administration, with performance boosts lasting up to 4-6 weeks post-treatment in some studies.

Dosage and Schedule Insights from Studies

Dosages in research on well-trained or untrained individuals vary, often tailored to body weight (e.g., IU per kg) and administered via subcutaneous or intravenous injections. Common categorizations from systematic reviews include:

Low dosage: Less than 6,875 IU per week.
Medium dosage: 6,875–13,750 IU per week.
High dosage: More than 13,750 IU per week.

Typical protocols in performance-related studies:

Short-term regimens (e.g., 4-8 weeks): Injections 2-3 times per week, with totals ranging from 9 IU/kg body weight (low/micro-dose) up to 50-150 IU/kg (higher). For example, one study used 9 IU/kg three times weekly for 4 weeks, leading to ~4-6% performance gains in cycling time trials. Another involved 50 IU/kg three times weekly for 4-6 weeks, often with iron supplementation to support red blood cell production.
Loading and maintenance phases: Some protocols start with higher initial doses (e.g., 50 IU/kg three times weekly for 4 weeks) then taper to lower (e.g., 20 IU/kg three times weekly for 2 weeks) to maintain hematocrit levels below risky thresholds like 50%. A study on cyclists used a mean of 6,000 IU per week for 8 weeks, improving maximal power output by ~3% and VO2 max by ~4.7%.
Every-other-day or micro-dosing: For example, every 2-3 days for 4 weeks at varying levels (2,500-10,000 IU per injection), or micro-doses as low as 130 mL equivalent in blood volume adjustments.

Iron supplementation (e.g., 100-200 mg daily) is commonly paired to maximize EPO’s effects, as iron is needed for hemoglobin synthesis. Monitoring hematocrit is crucial to avoid levels over 50%, which heightens health risks.

Addressing Your Opinion on Schedule

Possible approach—a 3-week loading phase with high dosages around 6,000 IU per week, followed by a supporting phase of 3,000-4,500 IU per week—aligns somewhat with patterns in studies. For instance:

The loading phase resembles short-term higher-dose protocols (e.g., 6,000 IU weekly mean in one trial, or medium-range totals of 6,875-13,750 IU/week).
Maintenance at lower levels (e.g., 3,000-4,500 IU/week) echoes tapering strategies to sustain benefits while reducing risks, similar to studies shifting from 50 IU/kg to 20 IU/kg weekly.

Doping Control

A single large-dose injection is easier to detect than the same total dosage divided into smaller, more frequent applications.

Where to Buy EPO

You can buy EPO at RasputinShop.com

Overview of EPO in Endurance Sports