Cycling’s governing body the UCI is proposing to ban the use of carbon monoxide gas inhaling by teams ahead of the new season.
The gas, which can be lethal, is used in low doses in training as a way of helping teams measure critical blood metrics in riders, especially hemoglobin levels.
“Inhaled in low doses and under strict safety conditions, the gas is used in medicine as a tracer to measure the pulmonary diffusion of oxygen or of the total hemoglobin mass,” the UCI said in a statement on Thursday.
“However, when inhaled repeatedly in non-medical conditions, it can cause side effects such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and even loss of consciousness. The UCI considers that these health side effects, and the complete lack of knowledge about the long-term effects of repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide, justify a ban on the use of this gas due to medical reasons.”
Carbon monoxide hit the headlines at this year’s Tour de France when eventual champion Tadej Pogacar was asked about his Visma-Lease a Bike team’s legal use of the gas.
“It’s a test in altitude camp to see how you respond to altitude. You breathe into a balloon for one minute and then you see the hemoglobin mass, and then you need to repeat it two weeks after,” he was quoted as saying.
“It’s not like we’re breathing exhaust pipes every day in the cars. It’s just a pretty simple test to see how you respond to altitude training.”
In a statement released today, the governing body said: “Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odorless gas that is often a cause of household accidents. Inhaled in low doses and under strict safety conditions, the gas is used in medicine as a tracer to measure the pulmonary diffusion of oxygen or of the total haemoglobin mass.
“However, when inhaled repeatedly in non-medical conditions, it can cause side effects such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and even loss of consciousness.
“The UCI considers that these health side effects, and the complete lack of knowledge about the long-term effects of repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide, justify a ban on the use of this gas due to medical reasons.
“Its use in a medical setting, by qualified medical personnel, and within the strict context of assessing total hemoglobin mass, would, however, remain authorized.”
The UCI’s proposed ban will be discussed by its Management Committee with a decision expected to be made by its executive body at the end of January.
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