EPO / erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs)
Muscle & Strength · Erythropoietin receptor agonist
Tier C+
What this is
WADA coverage: erythropoietins/EPO, darbepoetins/dEPO, EPO-based constructs, EPO-Fc, methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta/CERA, EPO-mimetic agents and constructs, CNTO-530, peginesatide and pegmolesatide. Additional WADA alias coverage: EPO-mimetic agents and their constructs, Asialo EPO and Carbamylated EPO (CEPO).
Mechanism
EPO receptor agonists increase red-cell mass and oxygen-carrying capacity, which can improve endurance but also increases blood viscosity and thrombotic risk.
Dose & route
Clinical anemia dosing is individualized by hemoglobin response; no safe performance dose
Citations
- https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000716
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305894/
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/2026-prohibited-list
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.