Stop the use of carbon monoxide. The UCI, the International Cycling Unionit is ready to ban it among the cyclists with a decision that should be made tomorrow in the meeting scheduled in Arras, in the upper France, on the sidelines of the cyclocross world championships that will take place on the weekend in Levin. It must be said right away: the use of monoxide is not doping but it is still a controversial practice e Border Linewhich emerged during the last Tour de France with an investigation by the “Escape Collective” site which revealed its use by at least three top teams. Carbon monoxide inhaled in small doses normally serves to measure the physiological benefits of training at altitude but with a more “unscrupulous” use this toxic gas (and lethal beyond certain doses) allows improvements in performance by raising the values ​​of hemoglobin. Experts explain that the tests with carbon monoxide are generally made during the wing training for the detection of the percentage of hemoglobin, the element of the blood that absorbs and transports oxygen: the monoxide binds with hemoglobin e From its trend it is understood whether the work in the hill is having the desired effects or not. Scientific studies show how to be exposed to carbon monoxide with very low doses for five consecutive days increases some parameters such as the number of capillaries per fiber. The world anti -doping agency does not forbid it, but in this case the UCI anticipates the Wada protocols. The case broke out as mentioned last July and, although everything was normal, he raised more than some controversy. Last autumn, the UCI had asked Wada to take a position on the matter, before announcing in mid -December who would have asked its management committee to ban the use of gas for medical reasons. “Repeatedly inhaled in conditions of non -medical assistance, it can cause side effects such as headache, feeling of tiredness, nausea, vomiting, thoracic pain, breathing difficulties or even loss of consciousness” explains UCI. But its use in the medical environment, by competent medical personnel and in the rigorous context of the evaluation of the total mass of hemoglobin would however remain authorized. With tomorrow’s position UCI asks the Wada to decide for a ban.