Sugar elimination

I’ve read about how some pros (in particular Peid and Badmann) eliminate ALL sugars from their diet in the weeks leading up the a big race (including natural sugars, such as honey and things sweetened with fruit juice concentrate). What does this do for you? I understand that it’s a healthy thing to do, but what are the performance benefits, especially if you already eat a fairly low amount of both refined and natural sugars? Do they also eliminate sports nutrition products such as gels and gatorade during this time?

Thanks,
-Colin

Seems silly, as more complex carbohydrates get broken down to the same sugars. And some complex carbs (like maltodextrin) are just as high glycemi as glucose, while some sugars (like lactose) are low glycemic.