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.
Prohibited status of various donations and treatments
Donations
Whole blood 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.
Thrombocyte, plasma 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.
Although the administration or reintroduction of blood into the circulatory system is prohibited according to the Prohibited List, the following donations are excluded from this prohibition and permitted when performed in accredited collection centers:
- Thrombocyte (platelet) donation
- Plasma donation
- Peripheral blood stem cell donation
In Switzerland, the blood donation centers of the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) and the blood stem cell collection centers in Basel, Geneva and Zurich are considered accredited collection centers.
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.
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.
Other therapies
Other therapies that return blood to the circulatory system are also prohibited according to the Prohibited List (e.g. dialysis, H.E.L.P. apheresis, ozone therapy).
Therapeutic Use Exemptions
If athletes need a blood transfusion or other therapy that is prohibited according to the Prohibited List for health reasons, 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.
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