Chemical Bonding in SportsBY: Glizyl Luna

What is hemoglobin?● It is a protein● It is found in red

blood cells● They're responsible

for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues of the body.

How is hemoglobin important in the transport of oxygen in our bodies? It is the binding of

oxygen to the iron inside hemoglobin that enables our blood to carry enough oxygen to our cells to keep the other tissues working.

Why is the transport or oxygen by hemoglobin a real-life example of

chemical bonding?● It is an example of

chemical bonding because each hemoglobin molecule attaches to four oxygen atoms.

How is hemoglobin related to a successful climb to the top of Mt.

Everest?● When you climb the

mountain your metabolism get high which means the pH is lower than normal and causes the hemoglobin to release more oxygen than usual.

● It increases the oxygen to the muscle.

What does pH have to do with the transport of oxygen by hemoglobin?● Temperature changes

also influence the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin.

● In the warmth of the interior organs, the curve is shifted to the right (the pH 7.2) helping to unload the oxygen

What is blood doping?● Blood doping is the

act of increasing the number of red blood cells in circulation in order to enhance the amount of oxygen that is carried into your muscles from your lungs.

What is the difference between autologous and homologous blood doping?

● Autologous blood doping is the use of one's own blood for transfusion.

● Homologous blood doping is the transfusion of blood from a donor, other than oneself.

What is EPO and why is it used?● EPO stands for

erythropoietin● It is a protein hormone

produced by the kidney.● It is used to treat certain

forms of anemia.

The Medical uses of blood doping● It was developed for

treating the reduction in red blood cells that comes with kidney disease, HIV, cancer, and those undergoing surgery.

● It also is used by increasing exercise performance.

Why is blood doping used in sports?● It is used in sports

because it can carry more oxygen to the muscles which is used by athletes who compete in high endurance races.

A documented example of blood doping used in sport

● Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de France.

● Vinokourov has asked for a second blood sample to be tested, but his Astana team have now withdrawn from the race.

● Astana said two distinct types of red blood cells were found in Vinokourov's sample indicating he had had a blood transfusion before Saturday's stage.

● If Vinokourov's B-sample also tests positive he faces a two-year ban.

A 2nd documented example of blood doping in sports

The Vuelta a España has been rocked this morning by news that Tyler Hamilton (Phonak), has returned two positive blood tests that showed evidence of a homologous blood transfusion. One test was performed at the Athens Olympics and another at the Vuelta on September 13. Both tests showed evidence of a "mixed red blood cell population, an indication of a homologous blood transfusion," Phonak's press officer Georges Lüchinger was quoted by AP as saying. The results of the counter-analyses are not yet known, but are expected today (Tuesday).

Side effects of blood doping● Bacterial infections● Heart disease● Stroke● Cerebral or

pulmonary embolism● Autoimmune

diseases