1.   Now riders are believed to be using plasma expanders and artificial blood to give them an edge.

2.   The product, known as a blood volume plasma expander, helps replace blood lost during major surgery.

3.   He said the six skiers were given the plasma volume expander, hydroxyethyl starch, although it had been banned last year by the IOC.

4.   HES is a plasma volume expander and is taken intravenously.

5.   In February, six Finnish cross-country skiers tested positive for HES, a banned plasma expander, at the World Nordic Ski Championships in Finland.

6.   Isometsa tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch, a plasma volume expander that is taken intravenously and normally used in hospitals to treat blood loss.

7.   They tested positive for HES, a banned plasma expander, injected into the blood to improve performance or hide the use of other banned substances.

8.   They tested positive for a banned plasma expander, injected into the blood to improve performance or hide other banned substances.

9.   Plasma expanders that allow extra oxygen into the blood at the high-altitude event will be screened for in samples.