Italian athletes no longer have to fear bans. © AFP / ANDREJ IVANOV

A turning point for Italian winter sports enthusiasts

Italian athletes can look forward to a change that has been demanded for years. Cross-country skiers and biathletes will particularly welcome the news.

08. February 2024

From: leo

Previously, the use of the pressure chamber was expressly prohibited for Italian athletes because it violated the state's anti-doping laws. The curious thing: The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA does not classify the use of the pressure chamber as doping, which is why all countries have legalized this practice. The Italian state has now followed suit and adapted its own laws to those of WADA, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.

The previous regulations stated that the use of the pressure chamber was prohibited both at home and abroad and thus resulted in bans. Italy's athletes had long rebelled against this because they were at a clear competitive disadvantage compared to other nations. With legalization, athletes are no longer forced to always resort to altitude training. However, the application is strictly regulated. “The athlete who resorts to this practice must be under the strict supervision of the sports doctor both before and after the use of the pressure chamber,” writes the ministry.

Better performance is the result

The pressure chambers gradually reduce the amount of oxygen available, as if the athlete were sleeping at high altitude. This forces the body to naturally produce more red blood cells so that a higher percentage of oxygen is available for exercise.