Yes. Sport Integrity Australia endorses blood and plasma donation for athletes. Just remember to keep a record of your donation. You can also refer to Sport Integrity Australia's guidance for athletes for more information.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Timing is important.
Limited data show that donating plasma may temporarily affect performance for a few hours after donating, but generally normal performance returns quickly.
Blood donation can have a longer impact on endurance and oxygen-carrying capacity.
The risk of other side effects such as a painful arm, bruising and nerve irritation is low, but may impact your ability to perform. Red cell loss can occasionally occur if there is an interruption in the donation process, and like blood donation, can have a longer impact on performance.
To minimise any impact on training or competition, we recommend donating during recovery periods or the off-season.
2. Before donating, it's a good idea to speak with your medical team about what works best for your training and competition schedule.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, the donation process or how often you can donate, call our team on 13 14 95 or learn more about blood, plasma and platelet donations here.