March 9, 2009

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Bans Oxygen Use in Athletes

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has officially banned the use of bottled or canned oxygen in training and competition.

According to an official statement from WADA, bottled or canned oxygen falls under the Prohibited Methods, Section M1: Enhancement of oxygen transfer: "Artificially enhancing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen is prohibited." Therefore, based on this definition, any device that supplies oxygen and fulfills any of those 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.

When considering the actual nature of recreational canned oxygen, it is surprising that WADA would even consider banning it, for the following reasons:

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 would not violate the true "spirit of sport" because it is publicly available, affordable, and any athlete can obtain it easily.

4). There is no way to effectively test for it, so the athletes who continue to train with oxygen and defy the rules would never get caught or penalized.

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