Radsport erfreut sich in den letzten Jahren bei der Bevölkerung einer sehr großen Beliebtheit. Allerdings werden in den letzten Jahren auch kritische Stimmen laut, die außer den positiven Effekten des körperlichen Trainings auch die Gesundheitsrisiken, insbesondere für den Urogenitaltrakt sehen. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert eine Übersicht über urologische Probleme im Radsport und welche Vorsichtsmaßnahmen ergriffen werden können, um die Prävalenz dieser Beschwerden zu verringern.

Background. In dependence on their injury level, male subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit a less favorable lipoprotein profile than control persons. The impairment of the sympathetic nervous system and the fact that persons with spinal cord injury are subject to extreme physical inactivity may have an influence on their lipid profile and lipoprotein(a) concentration. It has been shown that sex-specific differences in hormonal regulation are responsible for differences in lipoprotein levels between nondisabled men and women. However, the role of hormones on lipoprotein levels has not been investigated in female subjects with spinal cord injury. Methods. Therefore, we performed a detailed investigation regarding the lipid profile in 32 premenopausal women with spinal cord injury ranging from tetraplegia to low paraplegia and in 36 control subjects. VO(2max) was determined by a wheelchair ergometry with stepwise increase in work load. Result. VO(2max) was significantly higher in paraplegics than in tetraplegics but significantly lower than in control subjects. Paraplegics had significantly higher low-density lipoprotein levels than both tetraplegics and control persons. The lipid profile of female tetraplegics was characterized by elevated triglycerides. An association between high-density lipoprotein levels and spinal cord injury or the level of the injury was not observed. No significant difference in lipoprotein(a) was found within SCI individuals as well as between SCI individuals and control persons indicating the predominant genetic determination of lipoprotein(a) and the thus related cardiovascular risk. Conclusion. Despite the extreme reduction of VO(2max), the assumed physical inactivity and low serum catecholamine levels due to the impairment of the sympathetic nervous system, female tetraplegic persons did not show an adverse lipoprotein profile with respect to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. If the higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in female with spinal cord injury with low lesion levels or the elevated TG levels in female tetraplegics bare relevance with respect to an increased cardiovascular risk in this population needs to be clarified in further longitudinal investigations.

Im Radsport stellt wie im Spitzensport allgemein die Einnahme von Dopingprodukten ein bleibendes Problem dar. Konventionelle Dopingkontrollen haben nicht den gewünschten Effekt. Aus diesem Grund hat der Internationale Radsportverband (UCI) ein breitgefächertes System zur Bekämpfung von Doping eingeführt. Auf sportlicher Ebene werden Blut- und Urinkontrollen im Training und Wettkampf durchgeführt, im Rahmen der Prävention erlaubt ein engmaschiges medizinisches Untersuchungsprogramm (“Medical Monitoring”) eine gesundheitliche Überwachung eines jeden Athleten. Strenge sportpolitische und arbeitsrechtliche Regeln für alle Radsport-Profiteams können zusätzlich eine abschreckende Wirkung auf potentielle Delinquenten haben. Diese Maßnahmen haben in den letzten Jahren zu einem objektiven Rückgang der Dopingpraktiken im Radsport geführt.

Background: Blood testing is a major concern in sports. Sporting federations have introduced cut‐off values for hematological variables to limit blood manipulations. Do date, no reference margins have been established to adjust single‐ or multivariable blood tests to the exercise adapted blood cell system of athletes. We studied hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), blood cell variables and changes in vascular volumes in male and female national team cyclists to evaluate the influence of exercise on these variables and the results of blood tests, and to estimate normal ranges in athletes for blood tests. Methods: 1628 blood samples of 169 male and 55 female athletes were considered. Samples were analyzed automatically, blood cell indices and vascular volumes were calculated. Overall averages and seasonal differences were estimated. Results: Hb‐average was: 15.4 ± 0.8 g dL−1 for male and 13.9 ± 0.7 g dL−1 for female cyclists, Hct: 45 ± 2.9% and 40.7 ± 2.7%. Blood variables and vascular volumes showed significant seasonal changes. 1–6% of all samples were found above the currently used limits for blood testing. This is in accordance with the data from the normal population. Nevertheless, EPO misuse or blood manipulations cannot totally be excluded. Conclusion: Athletes display seasonal adaptations in their blood profile which should be considered in testing regulations. The presented data might be used as reference values for indirect single‐ and multivariable blood tests.

PURPOSE:Alterations of the red blood cell system and iron metabolism can influence physical performance. On the other hand, exercise can influence hematological variables. The purpose of this epidemiological study was to investigate the characteristics of the red blood cell system and the iron metabolism in athletes of different sporting disciplines and at different levels of performance. METHODS:We studied 851 male subjects (747 athletes, 104 untrained controls). Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), iron, transferrin, ferritin (Fer), and haptoglobin were analyzed in standardized blood samples, obtained after 2 d of rest, considering levels of performance (internationally, nationally, locally competitive, and leisure time), distinctive sporting category (endurance- (END), strength- (POW), and mixed-trained (MIX)), and, within endurance athletes, distinctive disciplines (cycling (CYC) and running (RUN)). RESULTS:No difference was found between athletes and controls in Hb and Hct. Reduced Hb, Hct, and RBC levels were observed in END compared with POW and MIX. These findings can mainly be attributed to exercise-induced plasma volume expansion, and only to a lesser degree and in selected athlete populations to hemolysis, as low haptoglobin is only observed in RUN, not in CYC, suggesting that not exercise itself but the "traumatic" movement of running might trigger the destruction of red blood cells. Physical activity of increasing duration and workloads (leisure time compared with competitive athletes) leads to decreased Fer levels in athletes, disregarding their discipline, but more pronounced in RUN. CONCLUSION:Physical training itself has no significant effect on selected hematological variables in athletes compared with untrained controls. The specific type and duration of exercise is of major importance in the adaptations of the blood cell system and the iron metabolism.