VIENNA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Austrian scientists successfully developed a new method for testing and detecting doping erythropoietin (EPO), which is more convenient, accurate and more quickly to provide results in comparison with other detection methods.

    EPO belongs to a hormone drug, which was invented in 1980s. It can promote the formation of oxygen in the muscles, so that the muscles could be more powerful and continue to work for longer hours, significantly improving people's endurance.

    As there is almost no difference between EPO and the naturally occurring human erythropoietin and it would quickly disappear from the body after the injection, it is hard to be detected. Some athletes therefore abuse EPO to improve their race performance.

    By the use of bio-technology, Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA), which is the third generation of EPO, is far more difficult to detect. So far, four samples of urine and blood were required to verify whether an athlete illegally has abused pharmaceutical EPO.

    Christian Reichel, expert of Austrian Seibersdorf Laboratories said in an article published in the latest issue of the journal Drug Testing and Analyses that through their newly developed approach, only one blood-based investigation needed to be conducted to determine whether people had used EPO, CERA, or other ingredients containing EPO doping. It is better than previous testing methods in the accuracy and sensitivity.

    Currently, this new method for detecting doping is still under a large-scale identification by Austrian scientists. A lot of physical tests will also be needed before the submission to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to approve its use.

    According to Reichel, this process will take about half a year.