The altitude tent debate has heated up in recent weeks after the ethics panel of the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, determined in July that such devices violated “the spirit of sport.â€
WADA plans to rule in September about whether to include altitude tents and other hypoxic chambers on its List of Prohibited Substances and Methods for 2007. The ethics panel ruling against hypoxic chambers is expected to carry significant weight with WADA officials making the decision.
The World Anti-Doping Code states:
A substance shall be considered for inclusion on the Prohibited List if the substance is a masking agent or meets two of the following three criteria: (1) it has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance; (2) it represents a potential or actual health risk; or (3) it is contrary to the spirit of sport. None of the three criteria alone is a sufficient basis for adding a substance to the Prohibited List.
For a complete story, see this article in the New York Times:
Live at Altitude? Sure. Sleep There? Hmm.
By GINA KOLATA
Published: July 26, 2006
One website, www.altitudeforall.info , has created an online petition and is gathering comments from athletes opposed to including altitude tents on the Banned list. The website plans to submit its petition to WADA in the next few weeks.
WADA To Discuss Altitude Simulators
Tue May 09, 2006
http://www.fasterskier.com/training3366.html
WADA Seeks More Input On Artificially-Induced Hypoxic Conditions
Fri May 19, 2006
http://www.fasterskier.com/training3394.html
WADA website: www.wada-ama.org
