UCI has finally decided on the fate of the controversial method used by Pogačar and Vingegaard.

LIEVÍN – The International Cycling Union (UCI) has decided to ban the inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO), a method used by some riders.

Controversial use of this method was seen by riders such as Slovenian Tadej Pogačar from UAE Team Emirates and Dane Jonas Vingegaard from Team Visma-Lease a Bike. The ban will come into effect on February 10.

Several WorldTour teams utilized the potentially dangerous method of inhaling carbon monoxide to optimize the training of their riders at high altitudes. The equipment for controlled inhalation allowed precise dosing of CO into the lungs, which increased the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream and enhanced the riders’ performance. The use of this potentially lethal gas by at least three teams was revealed last year during the Tour de France by the specialized cycling website Escape Collective.

The affected teams included Israel-Premier Tech, UAE Team Emirates, and Team Visma-Lease a Bike. In November, the UCI asked the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to take a clear stance on the controversial method. On Saturday, UCI officially decided to ban it.

“The goal is to protect the health of our athletes,” UCI explained in its statement. “Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odorless gas, often responsible for accidents in households. When inhaled in small doses and under strict safety conditions, it is used in medicine as an indicator for measuring lung oxygen diffusion or overall hemoglobin levels. However, repeated inhalation in non-medical conditions can cause side effects such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and even loss of consciousness,” the statement quoted from AFP.