SPORTS ETHICS

Hypoxic air machines

Hypoxic air machines: performance enhancement through effective training—or cheating?

M Spriggs

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
M Spriggs
Ethics Unit, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Centre for the Study of Health and Society, University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University, Australia; merle.spriggs@mcn.edu.au

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Following an investigation of the football clubs using hypoxic air machines, the Australian Football League (AFL) has decided not to ban the machines. This seems, however, to be a reluctant decision since it appears that some AFL officials still feel there is something undesirable about the use of the machines. Use of the machines raises questions about performance enhancement and the role of technology. It prompts consideration of the grounds for banning performance enhancing devices or substances and raises questions about what constitutes a drug

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Abbreviations: AFL, Australian Football League; AIS, Australian Institute of Sport; EPO, Erythropoietin

Keywords: hypoxic air machines; performance enhancing devices; drug use in sports; ethics of sport

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A machine being used by Australian footballers, which is designed to imitate the effects of high altitude training and enhance performance has prompted an investigation by the Australian Football League (AFL) and sparked debate in the media. The AFL decided not to ban the machine but a sense of unease about its use remains and there seems to be some difficulty in articulating the cause of that unease. The league’s medical officers say the hypoxicators do not contravene their antidoping code or the league’s rules,^1,2 but according to at least one AFL official, the use of the machines is "sending the wrong message concerning the image of our game".¹

The hypoxic air machine provides nitrogen rich air which is thought to boost the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, which in turn boosts the production of red blood cells—in much the same way as the banned drug . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Schermer, M (2008). On the argument that enhancement is "cheating". J. Med. Ethics 34: 85-88 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• (2005). Artificial altitude training creates concern in Australian football. Br. J. Sports. Med. 39: 318-318 [Full Text]  
• Tamburrini, C (2005). Commentary. J. Med. Ethics 31: 114-114 [Full Text]