Idman.biz
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may ban the use of hypoxic masks, which simulate high altitude conditions.
Idman.Biz reports that the Spanish newspaper Marca reported this. The reason for the ban is the death of Norwegian biathlete Sivert Bakken.
Bakken, a three-time European champion, died on December 23 at the age of 27. He was found dead in a hotel in Lavazza, Italy. The cause of death is still unknown. The Norwegian Biathlon Association said that a hypoxic mask was leaking when Bakken was found dead.
Previously, WADA analyzed hypoxic masks only in the context of possible advantage. Now the agency is considering them in terms of safety, health and risk to athletes.
Sources in the anti-doping community have said that "work is being done to ban them." Representatives of cycling teams and anti-doping agencies have noted that this applies not only to the use of the method during competitions, but also to training conditions where medical monitoring is not possible.
