As new blood booster heads to market, anti-doping authorities say they’re all over it

Drug police say new EPO is on their radar

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A drug that mimics EPO as a way to help patients with kidney problems is in the late stages of development, one in a long list of new pharmaceuticals that anti-doping authorities are monitoring as they struggle to keep sports clean.

The drug is called Hematide, and it could be on the market by 2012. Anti-doping authorities say there’s a chance some version of the blood-boosting drug could already be available on the black market.

Hematide’s arrival is the latest step in a long-running cat-and-mouse game between the drug police and the athletes who find ways to use drugs to improve their performance.

Before Hematide, the most significant development in the line of EPO products was CERA, a version of EPO that stays in the blood for longer periods of time.