James has been tied to the 2003 doping incident.
LeBron James’ history and standing as one of the best NBA players of all time were undeniable until earlier this week, when Kevin Garnett sensationally alleged that the Los Angeles Laker had been using performance-enhancing substances. But where did the claims originate from?
Garnett, an ex-Boston Celtics star, made the assertions on a podcast with Paul Pierce, linking the 39-year-old to the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative group by implying that he is utilizing “new juice” pioneered by the organization.
It arose when Pierce questioned him about if LeBron is stronger than his son, Bronny, with the host assuming the youngster would be powerful enough to dunk on his father, which Garnett chuckled off.
“Have you seen his dad? His father is on that BALCO. “He’s on that new juice,” Garnett explained.
It was then linked to prior claims made by Chael Sonnen, who competed in the MMA and indicated that he and James shared the same drug dealer to obtain erythropoietin before he doubled down by saying he doesn’t see anything wrong with what he did.
He [James] and I have one thing in common,” Sonnen said. “We purchase EPO from the same drug dealer. I don’t see any problem with that…
“Performance and enhancing are good terms, you can pin that on me” .
What is erythropoietin?
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that is essential for the synthesis of red blood cells in the body. It is predominantly produced by the kidneys, but a minor quantity may be made in the liver.
EPO works by stimulating the bone marrow to create red blood cells, which transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
EPO has earned a reputation as a performance-enhancing substance in sports. Athletes may utilize synthetic EPO to boost their red blood cell count, increasing their oxygen-carrying capacity and possibly improving endurance and performance.
Anti-doping agencies and sports regulatory bodies prohibit the use of EPO as a doping agent due to potential health concerns and an unfair competitive advantage.
Detection methods have been developed to detect synthetic EPO in athletes’ blood samples, with the goal of preserving the integrity of sporting events and protecting players’ health.
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