Smoking, Alcohol, Ergogenic Aids, Doping and the Endurance Performer

Is the measurement of maximal oxygen intake passé?

“…A variety of drugs19 and manipulations such as blood transfusions20 can induce small increments of maximal oxygen intake that have an important influence on the outcome of endurance competitions. Measurements of maximal oxygen intake under carefully controlled double-blind trials are thus important in distinguishing medications that are acceptable (for instance, certain drugs used in the treatment of bronchospasm induced by exercise or cold) from those which would give athletes an unfair advantage.…”