Cycling-UCI bans riders from inhaling carbon monoxide on health and safety grounds

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(Reuters) – Cyclists and teams can no longer use carbon monoxide gas outside of a medical facility, the sport’s governing body International Cycling Union (UCI) said.

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 haemoglobin levels.

An investigation published by the website Escape Collective during this year’s Tour de France highlighted the use of carbon monoxide rebreather devices by several teams to optimise altitude training.

The UCI proposed the ban in December, while the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in November it would look into the effects of frequent and repeated exposure to the gas.

“The new regulation forbids the possession, outside a medical facility, of commercially available CO re-breathing systems connected to oxygen and CO cylinders,” the UCI said in a statement on Saturday after an executive committee meeting.

“This ban applies to all licence-holders, teams and/or bodies subject to the UCI Regulations and to anyone else who might possess such equipment on behalf of riders or teams.

“The inhalation of CO will remain authorised within a medical facility and under the responsibility of a medical professional experienced in the manipulation of this gas for medical reasons.”

The ban will come into effect on Feb. 10.

“The UCI takes a bold and necessary stance by banning the repeated use of carbon monoxide inhalation on medical grounds,” international cycling chief David Lappartient said.

“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our athletes and today’s decision is another significant step in this direction.”

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by William Mallard)