March 31, 2008
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmDoping: What a Difference a Drug Makes
By Michael Shermer
Average speeds of the winners of the Tour de France took a quantum leap upward beginning in 1991, when recombinant erythropoietin, or r-EPO, apparently came into wide use in cycling.
To control for yearly variance caused by course changes and weather, the author averaged the speeds over 14-year periods going backward and forward in time from 1991; the averages are plotted here.
As the graph shows, in the period 1991–2004 the winners’ average speed jumped substantially (8 percent) over the corresponding speed in the period 1977–1990, an increase that cannot be accounted for by improvements in equipment, nutrition or training.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Even after 2004, when stricter controls were put in place, doping seems to have continued unabated: as the graph shows, the 2005 and 2006 Tour races were the fastest ever.
Perhaps the massive disqualification of dopers in the 2007 race finally made a difference: the average speed of that race was below the 1991–2004 average.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
