These two responses are just childish nonsense...

10% doping is actually low IMO, if you look at how many AGs "supplement" with "health" products most Pros won't touch.
Hormone precursors and all the gym-rat variety of supplements of unknown quality that do providing noticeable "gain".
So maybe 10% KNOW they take something that may pop them if they are not careful.
And probably another 10% that had been "crossing" over from strength/body-building/fitness scene, where supplements are considered part of the culture.

40% drafting sounds about ballpark...Not happening for all or at the same time, but half of the field drafting during an IM race at one time point or another is a reasonable number.

The 5% cheating otherwise not sure...I think that may be on the high side.
Given the great logistics of Ironman(R) races with plenty of timing mats.....still need whistle blowers, though.

.

- At least 5% of all age groupers in IRONMAN cheat otherwise
As mentioned, if this -doesn't- include peeing, then I too think it is high. But maybe I am missing other ways that people cheat? I don't think many people try to, or are able to, cut course. Littering maybe? Accepting handouts (food or otherwise) from family members?

Someone earlier today asked me how much cheating there is in IRONMAN racing and I suggested the following numbers.

- At least 10% of all age groupers in IRONMAN dope
- At least 40% of all age groupers in IRONMAN draft willingly regularly
- At least 5% of all age groupers in IRONMAN cheat otherwise

These numbers however are not mutually exclusive.

What say you?

. Nobody is doing EPO.

Someone earlier today asked me how much cheating there is in IRONMAN racing and I suggested the following numbers.

- At least 10% of all age groupers in IRONMAN dope
- At least 40% of all age groupers in IRONMAN draft willingly regularly
- At least 5% of all age groupers in IRONMAN cheat otherwise

These numbers however are not mutually exclusive.

What say you?

Herbert, these numbers are #fakenews. They're way, way inflated.

For the total number of all athletes who have ever completed an Ironman, a fraction of less than 1% have doped. For the total number of athletes who are Top Ager's it's likelt higher, but I believe it's still a very low single percentage number.

- At least 10% of all age groupers in IRONMAN dope
If this were accurate, I too think it includes products that people don't even know are illegal and/or make very little difference. I also agree with those that say EPO is -not- common among AG'ers. It is not -that- easy to get, it is very expensive, it is dangerous if stored incorrectly, it is dangerous if too much used. I find it very hard to believe that even 1% of AG'ers use it. Yes I know there have been 'studies', but correct me if I'm wrong, those 'studies' are based on volunteer responses from a sample of people, hardly scientific.

Someone earlier today asked me how much cheating there is in IRONMAN racing and I suggested the following numbers.

- At least 10% of all age groupers in IRONMAN dope
- At least 40% of all age groupers in IRONMAN draft willingly regularly
- At least 5% of all age groupers in IRONMAN cheat otherwise

These numbers however are not mutually exclusive.

What say you?

you should read this article:

https://www.outsideonline.com/1924306/drug-test


the upshot is that good drugs don't just give you a little edge. they put you in a different ballpark altogether.

Let's break this down...10% on doping seems low to me. Everytime there's a trophy someone is going to cheat.

The drafting bit is a throw-away comment. Drafting is a penalty, therefore no cheating. Think a technical foul in Basketball or a yellow card in rugby. In fact anything you get a time penalty for is not cheating, it's what we call a penalty.

The penalties are not properly applied, nor are they tough enough. It is well known that drafting a long time in a race is easily faster even with a penalty tent session. Plus the legs are fresher. It is cheating.