Will Carbon Monoxide inhalation be prohibited? UCI urges WADA to take a stance over controversial method

Carbon Monoxide is toxic to humans however, when inhaled in controlled and limited amounts, it may lead to slight improvement in the ability for the body to increase VO2max numbers. This is not yet confirmed, neither is it banned for pro riders, but it has been used in 2024 by a few teams including UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma | Lease a Bike. The UCI urge for there to be a decision on whether this is allowed or not.

There is a very obvious reason why this might be banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as it may pose a risk for the riders' health if not done properly. This was revealed earlier this year and amongst the teams that used this method are UAE Team Emirates, Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Israel - Premier Tech - although neither have been particularly open about it's possible effects or results, if there are any.

Although it has been used, it has been argued by UAE team Emirates doctor Adriano Rotunno that this is done to test the effects of altitude training in it's riders, and a similar answer was given by the Visma camp. Both riders were questioned during the Tour de France where they both downplayed the controversy.

However riders from other teams and pundits throughout the cycling world have criticized this method, which is still a small unknown in the cycling world. Romain Bardet recently rekindled the debate in an interview for Eurosport France saying that "carbon monoxide can explain the trajectory of some people we didn't know about a year or a year and a half ago". TotalEnergies manager Jean-René Bernaudeau also argued that this "damages cycling's reputation" and it's a widely agreed statement. 

Some studies seem to indicate the performance enhancing effects of this method and the UCI is pressing WADA to make a decision on whether this should be banned, or allowed. A decision is expected to come in the next few months.