Really interesting. Breaks down the science and controversy into laymen’s terms. One thing that fascinated me was how dangerous it is for pro cyclists to take EPO.
I am paraphrasing here but the science is that more red blood cells mean more oxygen which decreases lactic acid, increase wattage, etc. The problem is that by increasing your cell count, your blood turns much more dense (think mud or milk shakes). This makes it harder for the hear to pump the blood. Especially if your a pro cyclist. Your heart is bigger than the average persons and therefore beats even less per minute. There were rumors of trainers (who gave thier pros EPO) waking up cyclists in the middle of the night to ensure they did not die in their sleep (hear beating at its slowest).