"I don't want my kids to inhale toxic gas in order to become World Champions either" - company behind carbon monoxide rebreathers approves ban of abuse of the technique
Cycling
Detalo Health, the company behind the carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathers used by multiple WorldTour teams, has responded to a call by the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) for the technique not to be practised after allegations of misuse by several top-end pros surface.
The technique came to light during the second week of the 2024 Tour de France and has been a contentious topic from the get-go, with Tadej Pogacar wary to even admit to his knowledge of the practice at first.
After initially stating that they had no plan to call for a ban on CO rebreathers, the MPCC has since changed their mind and taken a strict stance against the technique. At a meeting last month, they strongly advised against the use of carbon monoxide and suggested it should eventually be banned.
Cyclingnews reached out to Detalo Health for a response to these remarks, with the company believing that the MPCC needs to be more specific in what it is calling to be banned as it highlights that there's no danger to use the rebreathers in the way that was originally intended.
Carsten Lundby, CEO of Detalo Health and a professor at the University of Southern Denmark, said that: "I completely agree that we should advise against the use of carbon monoxide inhalation with the intent to increase haemoglobin mass. That should be clear. And we have stated this on numerous occasions already."
"The use of carbon monoxide as a medical diagnostic tool is, of course, an entirely different thing where the intent is not to increase performance, but as a diagnostic tool. And that should, of course, not be forbidden, or cannot be forbidden. So there needs to be a clear distinct treatment between the two," he added.
He went on to double down on his stance, stating: "I'm very much against carbon monoxide inhalation with the intent to increase performance. I think it's against the spirit of sports. I don't want my kids to inhale toxic gas in order to become World Champions."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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