If you are competitive with a naturally low hematocrit level you have more “headroom” for doping to unnaturally boost your performance, and vice-versa. Lance h

If you are competitive with a naturally low hematocrit level you have more “headroom” for doping to unnaturally boost your performance, and vice-versa. Lance had a naturally low hematocrit for a road cyclist, which made him respond disproportionately strongly to EPO. He’d have been mediocre off the sauce in a clean field. The end.