Due to the role of hemoglobin within red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the working muscles, iron is critical for endurance athletes. This process allows for the transformation of oxygen into ATP (energy) and iron deficiency will directly affect ATP generation and subsequently contribute to poor endurance capabilities . It follows that with low levels of iron, aerobic ability is diminished and more dependence on dead power or anaerobic metabolism takes place which is not efficient for endurance events.