The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is planning to propose a ban on the use of carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathers by cyclists, due to health concerns surrounding the gas. According to the UCI, the proposal will be presented to the Management Committee during their upcoming meeting in Arras, France, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2025.
“Given the potential health risks and the unknown long-term effects, the UCI feels it’s necessary to ban the use of carbon monoxide by riders,” the governing body said in a statement.
Why CO?
While carbon monoxide is mainly known for being dangerous, especially in household poisoning incidents, it does have some medical uses. In controlled, small amounts, it can help doctors measure pulmonary function and hemoglobin mass. But repeated exposure outside these controlled settings can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, and in severe cases, unconsciousness.
The UCI said their concerns come from these known side effects and the lack of long-term data on CO exposure. However, they made it clear that carbon monoxide would still be allowed under strict medical supervision for specific tests, like measuring total hemoglobin mass.
Pogačar and Vingegaard’s CO usage
Jonas Vingegaard, who recently spoke at his team’s media day, confirmed that he had used CO at Visma-Lease a Bike to test the effectiveness of altitude training. “If this technique is being misused to improve performance, I understand why it should be banned,” he told TV2. But when asked about the health risks, he played them down, saying, “Inhaling carbon monoxide is like smoking one cigarette. A lot of people smoke multiple cigarettes a day, so I’m not worried about one. Not that I’ve ever smoked myself.”
Vingegaard also said, “Of course, I’ll follow whatever the UCI and WADA decide. If they ban it, I won’t do it again.”
UAE says it’s already stopped
Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates squad also confirmed they’ve used CO rebreathers before, but had already decided to stop even before the UCI made the announcement. “To clear things up, carbon monoxide rebreathing is a technique that’s been used for 20 years and validated by athletes worldwide to measure hemoglobin mass during altitude training,” said Jeroen Swart, performance coordinator for UAE Team Emirates.
Peter Møller Christensen, a physiologist with Team Denmark, pointed out the dangers, saying, “Too much CO exposure can be deadly because it binds to red…
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