Athletes banned from using Oxygen by the World Anti-Doping Agency
Canned or bottled oxygen has been officially banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Athletes under their supervision can no longer use supplemental oxygen in training or competition.
According to WADA guidelines, bottled or canned oxygen in considered a Prohibited Method under Section M1: Enhancement of oxygen transfer: "Artificially enhancing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen is prohibited." Based on this section, any device that supplies oxygen and fulfills any of these criteria is a prohibited method in sport.
By citing this Section M1 ruling, WADA is categorizing bottled or canned oxygen along with potentially dangerous oxygen delivering methods like blood doping, perfluorocarbons, efaproxiral (RSR13) and modified haemoglobin products. From a risk assessment standpoint alone, this comparison is VERY unreasonable. Oxygen has been safely used in medical treatment for decades, whereas the other methods specifically cited by this rule are known to have potentially serious side effects.
Considering the true nature of recreational canned oxygen, it seems very surprising that WADA would consider it a banned substance or method:
1). It is completely safe and not considered a drug by FDA guidelines.
2). It has never been scientifically proven to enhance athletic performance.
3). It is publicly available and not cost prohibitive, so any athlete can easily obtain it. Therefore it would not jeopardize the true "spirit of sport."
4). Since there is no way to test for it, athletes who defy this ruling would never get caught.
Don't these reasons listed above contradict all of the guidelines we have come to expect WADA to consider when banning a substance or method?
Most people find this ruling VERY difficult to accept, especially since the National Football League (NFL), one of the largest and most respected sports organizations in the world, allows its players to PUBLICLY use oxygen on the sidelines during games without restriction, as was clearly demonstrated in this year's Super Bowl.
WADA's decision making process in this case is definitely questionable. Either that, or they have grown so powerful that they no longer feel obligated to justify their actions to the public or the athletes they are supposed to protect and govern.
For a full, more detailed version of this press release, go to: www.oxygen4energy.com/wada-bans-oxygen.html
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Published March 2nd, 2009
Filed in Sport