It’s too early to say if this is champ or chump. Haematocrit is a funny thing – it varies, like everything in life. It varies between individuals and it varies day to day. My own levels have generally varied from 46 to 48%. Some people just have higher values, even approaching 50%. It’s just the way biological things work. But high reading s can also point to doping. So when a rider returns an HC above an unusually high – statistically – 50% it’s “for your own safety” that you are taken away from cycling for a while and “assessed”.
From CN: Early in the day it was announced that Hayles and Dutchman Pim Ligthart had both returned blood values above the permitted 50% level, with Hayles reportedly clocking in at 50.3%. As per UCI rules, both were immediately suspended for two weeks and will undergo further testing to determine the reason for their readings.
It’s too early to say if this is champ or chump. Haematocrit is a funny thing – it varies, like everything in life. It varies between individuals and it varies day to day. My own levels have generally varied from 46 to 48%. Some people just have higher values, even approaching 50%. It’s just the way biological things work. But high reading s can also point to doping. So when a rider returns an HC above an unusually high – statistically – 50% it’s “for your own safety” that you are taken away from cycling for a while and “assessed”.
From CN: Early in the day it was announced that Hayles and Dutchman Pim Ligthart had both returned blood values above the permitted 50% level, with Hayles reportedly clocking in at 50.3%. As per UCI rules, both were immediately suspended for two weeks and will undergo further testing to determine the reason for their readings.
