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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 referring to Section M1, WADA is evaluating bottled or canned oxygen from the same perspective as potentially dangerous oxygen delivering methods like blood doping, modified haemoglobin products, efaproxiral (RSR13) and perfluorocarbons. This comparison is VERY unreasonable from a risk assessment standpoint. Oxygen has been used safely in medical treatments for a long time, whereas the other methods specifically cited under this ruling 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 not considered a drug by the FDA and is completely safe in the doses provided.

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?

This ruling is very difficult to accept for most people, especially since the NFL (National Football League), one of the most powerful and influential sports organizations in the world, allows its players to publicly use oxygen without restriction during games. This was clearly demonstrated in the Superbowl earlier this year.

Something is definitely amiss with WADA's decision making process here. Either that, or they have grown in scale to the point where they do not feel they need to justify their actions to the athletes they are supposed to be protecting and governing.

For a full, more detailed version of this press release, go to: www.oxygen4energy.com/wada-bans-oxygen.html