The Ethics of Altitude Simulation in Sport

• Does the use of simulated altitude equipment impart an unfair advantage to the adopters of the technology? Discussion
• Will the use of simulated altitude equipment automatically result in athletic performance improvements? Discussion
• Does the use of simulated altitude equipment result in supra-physiological performance enhancement? Discussion
• Is the manipulation of the environment something that should be banned? Discussion
• Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D. on ETHICS OF ALTITUDE TRAINING

Is the manipulation of the environment something that should be banned?

No.
Nothing foreign is added to the air in CAT's hypoxic systems. Instead, some of the Oxygen molecules are filtered out before the air is passed on to the enclosure. This is the same concept as an air-conditioner, which removes some of the water molecules before the air is passed on to the room.

Both items create a simulated environment that is found naturally in other places around the globe. Athletes use both of them because it helps their overall performance. Both of these processes have resulted in a more level playing field, not an unsporting advantage. In modern days of increasingly close elite athletic performance, athletes from all geographical areas can have the same competitive advantages.

Other examples of technology advancements that have helped level the playing field by manipulating environmental factors include refrigerated ice rinks, heat acclimatization chambers, and even the automobile which allows an athlete to easily travel to different natural elevations in order to "Live High, Train Low."