Abortion doping
Encyclopedia
Abortion doping refers to the rumoured practice of purposefully inducing pregnancy
then abortion
for athletic performance-enhancing benefits.
has found there is a 60 per cent increase in blood volume and that this could improve the body’s ability to carry oxygen to muscles by up to 30 per cent. This would have obvious positive effects on aerobic capacity. Other possible advantages derive from the surge in hormones pregnancy induces — predominantly progesterone
and oestrogen, but also testosterone
, could increase muscle strength.
Several world records have been set by female athletes shortly after giving birth to their first child. This is accepted as a natural and unintended event.
, then vice-president of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), supported stories that Eastern European athletes do get artificially inseminated and then abort two to three months later in an attempt to boost athletic performance. The prince went on to claim he knew a Swiss doctor who was performing the procedure however it has yet to be proven. The procedure was determined not to be illegal by the IOC.
Regarding the incident Greg Whyte, Professor of applied sport and exercise science at Liverpool John Moores University
has stated: "It is certainly viable that pregnancies were enforced and then terminated as part of the old East German regime, some doctors have claimed they know that is the case.”
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
then abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
for athletic performance-enhancing benefits.
Physical benefits
There is little doubt from medical experts that hormonal and other changes in pregnancy affect physical performance. In the first three months it is known that a woman’s body produces a natural surplus of red blood cells, the type that are rich in oxygen-carrying haemoglobin, to support the growing fetus. A study of athletes before and after pregnancy by Professor James Pivarnik at the Human Energy Research laboratory in Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
has found there is a 60 per cent increase in blood volume and that this could improve the body’s ability to carry oxygen to muscles by up to 30 per cent. This would have obvious positive effects on aerobic capacity. Other possible advantages derive from the surge in hormones pregnancy induces — predominantly progesterone
Progesterone
Progesterone also known as P4 is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis of humans and other species...
and oestrogen, but also testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
, could increase muscle strength.
Several world records have been set by female athletes shortly after giving birth to their first child. This is accepted as a natural and unintended event.
Allegations
Rumours arose in the 1970s and 1980s that such physiological improvements during pregnancy led to attempts by East German athletes to enhance their performance by getting pregnant and then having an abortion. Prince Alexandre de MerodeAlexandre de Merode
Prince Alexandre of Mérode was a member of the Belgian princely House of Merode and was the head of drug testing policy for the International Olympic Committee until his death....
, then vice-president of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC), supported stories that Eastern European athletes do get artificially inseminated and then abort two to three months later in an attempt to boost athletic performance. The prince went on to claim he knew a Swiss doctor who was performing the procedure however it has yet to be proven. The procedure was determined not to be illegal by the IOC.
Regarding the incident Greg Whyte, Professor of applied sport and exercise science at Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
has stated: "It is certainly viable that pregnancies were enforced and then terminated as part of the old East German regime, some doctors have claimed they know that is the case.”