On Saturday, the UCI introduced a new regulation banning the repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO) in cycling. The decision was made during the UCI Management Committee meeting in Arras, France, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, held in conjunction with the ‘cross worlds in Liévin, France. The ban will officially take effect on Feb. 10. (So get your CO in now, while you can, I guess.)
Carbon monoxide is commonly used in sports medicine to measure total haemoglobin mass and blood volume, particularly in assessing the effects of endurance training and altitude exposure. However, the repeated inhalation of CO poses serious health risks, including headaches, lethargy, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. More severe cases can lead to heart rhythm disturbances, seizures, paralysis, and even loss of consciousness.
The CO controversy
In November, the UCI urged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to address the use of carbon monoxide inhalation, follwing reports that the practice was widespread among top teams at the Tour de France.
A carbon monoxide rebreather is used in sports to simulate the effects of altitude training by briefly exposing athletes to controlled amounts of carbon monoxide. The UCI has also urged teams and riders to avoid the “repeated use” of the method, citing its performance-enhancing potential and the inhalation of a toxic gas as reasons for concern.
Pogi and Vingegaard
Several riders have been tied to the use–including Tour de France winners Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar.
“We only used it at Visma-Lease a Bike to test whether our altitude training camps were effective or not,” Vingegaard said. “If the technique is being misused to improve performance, I understand the decision to ban it.”
When asked about health risks, Vingegaard appeared to downplay them. “Inhaling carbon monoxide is equivalent to smoking one cigarette. Many people smoke multiple cigarettes a day,” he said. “I’m not afraid of one cigarette. Not that I’ve ever smoked a cigarette myself. But beyond that, I prefer not to take a position on this issue.”
To mitigate these dangers, the new UCI regulation prohibits the possession of commercially available CO re-breathing systems connected to oxygen and CO cylinders outside of medical facilities. This rule applies to all UCI licence-holders, teams, and affiliated bodies, as well as anyone in possession of such equipment on behalf of riders or teams.
How riders can use CO still
Despite the ban, CO…
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