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Det verkar uppenbart att EPO och bloddopning är livsfarligt.  Antalet svenska kulstötare och diskuskastare som dött relativt unga eller begått självmord är skrämmande högt. Internationellt är det främst cykelsporten som tar död på elitidrottare. Ett tiotal av de senaste decenniernas bästa cyklister har begått självmord. Ännu fler har dött av hjärtproblem i ung ålder.

Sportbladet skriver här om en cancerpatient som tog livet av sig i förra veckan. Att de tre Sportbladet nämner som nyligen avlidit tillhörde samma stall tror jag är en tillfällighet för alla stall och alla cyklister dopade sig under den här tiden. Ja, förutom svenskar förstås…

Här är en lista ur The Guardian av unga cyklister som dött av hjärtattacker sedan 2003:

Denis Zanette (Italy)

Died January 11 2003, aged 32

Zanette, right, collapsed after visiting the dentist. Instantly linked to the use of the blood-booster EPO, which led to an outcry in Italy and demands for stricter drug controls.

Marco Ceriani (Italy)

Died May 5, aged 16

An elite amateur, Ceriani experienced a heart attack during a race, was admitted to hospital in a coma, and failed to recover consciousness.

Fabrice Salanson (France)

Died June 3, aged 23

Died of a heart attack in his sleep. Was found by his room mate in their team hotel. Had been about to compete in the Tour of Germany.

Marco Rusconi (Italy)

Died November 14, aged 24

Rusconi was leaving the party of a friend last November when he collapsed and died in a shopping centre car park.

Jose Maria Jimenez (Spain)

Died December 6, aged 32

Died from a heart attack in a psychiatric hospital in Madrid. Had retired two years previously but consistently claimed a comeback was imminent.

Michel Zanoli (Netherlands)

Died December 29, aged 35

Zanoli, who retired in 1997, was 35 when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Johan Sermon (Belgium)

Died February 15 2004, aged 21

Suffered an apparent heart failure in his sleep. Had reportedly gone to bed early to prepare for an eight-hour training ride.

Marco Pantani (Italy)

Died February 15 2004, aged 34