Classic blood doping—the injection of additional blood cells to increase oxygen in the muscle—is illegal in Olympic sports.

When was blood doping made illegal?

"Blood doping" was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1985, though no test existed for it at the time.

What is blood doping and why is it banned?

This practice is banned, because it gives these athletes extra red blood cells to carry more oxygen to their muscles,. Blood doping has been around for a long time, and labs do have a way of testing for it, Hildebrandt said. ... WADA also lists "gene doping" as a banned method for athletes.