March 23, 2007 (Montreal, QC) — A new form of Erythropoietin (EPO) now for sale in Europe can be detected by current EPO tests, reported Bloomberg yesterday. The Bloomberg article cites Dr. Olivier Rabin, science director of the Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as saying that, “athletes who use it will be in for a nasty surprise.”

The new form of EPO, made by British-based Shire Plc and marketed under the Dynepo brand name in Germany, is made from human cells. Previous EPO products available came from animals such as hamsters and differed from naturally-produced human cells. There had been concern that the human-derived forms of EPO would be much more difficult to detect. Rabin confirms in the interview that Dynepo is detectable and acknowledged the assistance of pharmaceuticals, such as Shire Plc.

Pedal reached WADA today and was told that Dr. Olivier Rabin will not be back at his office until next week. WADA’s Manager of Media Relations & Communications, Frédéric Donzé, told Pedal that the test Dr. Rabin refers to is not a new test for EPO. Rather, Rabin is saying that current EPO tests will detect Dynepo.

EPO stimulates the formation of red blood cells. The main therapeutic use of EPO is in treating anaemia, especially where this is caused by kidney failure or from the effects of chemotherapy.The illicit use of EPO has been common in endurance sports, such as cycling, triathlon, marathons, and cross-country skiing since the late 1980s.

The star prosecution witness in the Puerto investigation, former pro cyclist Jesus Manzano, admits to having doped with EPO when he rode with the Kelme team. Spanish cyclist Roberto Heras was stripped of his 2005 Vuelta a Espana victory due to a positive EPO test.

The Spanish Minister of Sports, Jaime Lissavetzky, quoting Interpol figures, recently suggested that the global market for doping drugs (including EPO and other substances) could have be worth $19 billion in 2005. The total (legal and illicit) market for EPO was estimated by Wikipedia to be worth $10 billion in 2004.

Dr. Rabin previously told Medscape’s online Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine that other common banned substances in sports include: anabolic steroids; different hormones, including EPO; human growth hormone; some antiestrogenic drugs, and stimulants. Glucocorticosteroids are prohibited under certain conditions while beta2-agonists are restricted substances.

Apart from Shire, EPO is manufactured by such companies as California-based Amgen, and Swiss-based Roche AG