"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

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."