Blood, plasma and stem cell donations are needed to provide crucial blood products to people who are seriously ill or who have suffered an accident.
Athletes also donate blood or blood plasma from time to time or even regularly. According to the Prohibited List the administration or reintroduction of blood into the circulatory system is prohibited. As part of some blood donations or treatments, the blood is reintroduced into the circulatory system. These blood donations or treatments are therefore prohibited according to the Prohibited List, unless there is an explicit exception for a type of donation specified in the Prohibited List. A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required in the case of any such prohibited donations or treatments.

Donations

Permitted donations: Whole blood donation and plasma donation
In the case of a ‘classic’ blood donation, the blood is taken directly from the donor and is not reintroduced back into the donor’s own circulatory system. This kind of donation is permitted according to the Prohibited List. Plasma donation is also permitted.

Prohibited donations: Thrombocyte or peripheral blood stem cell donation
With certain types of blood donation, venous lines are inserted into both arms so that the blood flows from one arm through a separator and is then channeled back into the body through the second line. The required cells are filtered out and the remaining blood is reintroduced into the donor’s circulatory system.

According to the Prohibited List, the following kinds of donation are prohibited:

• Thrombocyte (platelet) donation
• Peripheral blood stem cell donation

Note in relation to peripheral blood stem cell donation: the growth factor G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) used for a peripheral blood stem cell donation is not prohibited by the Prohibited List. However, various other growth factors are prohibited according to the Prohibited List.

Dialysis

Performing a dialysis (artificial blood purification) is also prohibited according to the Prohibited List because the treatment involves blood being reintroduced into the patient’s circulatory system.

Receiving blood

Blood transfusion
Blood transfusions are used to balance out a lack of (whole) blood or blood components in the body, such as thrombocytes, or to replace the blood in the body. This reintroduction of blood or blood components into the circulatory system is prohibited according to the Prohibited List.

Receiving blood plasma
During a blood plasma infusion, only the plasma and not the red blood cells, for example, are introduced back into the circulation and therefore plasma introduction is not prohibited according to the Prohibited List. However, the provisions/rules applicable to intravenous infusions according to the Prohibited List must be considered. The receipt of blood plasma would be prohibited, for example, if a volume of more than 100 ml in a 12-hour period was to be introduced outside of a hospital setting.

Intravenous Infusions

If athletes wish to donate thrombocytes or peripheral blood stem cells or require one of these prohibited treatments, a TUE is required. The TUE Wizard will show you at what time and to which anti-doping organization the TUE application must be submitted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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