Good question. FWIW, I’m in favor of both.
And, why are they opposed to drunk drivers and not DRUGGED RACERS?
Is a guy loaded up on amphetamines and running a full blown steroid rage the sort of person you want right behind you in the swim start?
Good point.
Anyway, by joining USTA they’ve agreed they are subject to the rules of USADA and to be tested. If you want to race that’s one of the prices you pay.
-Robert
I am in favor of both. I’m in M30-34 which is a prime candidate for doping, and I say test all podium finishers in AG’s and stiffen the penalty for drafting. I podium at local races and would be happy to be tested. I don’t understand what the problem with testing is if you are clean…
maybe because we can see blatant violations of the drafting rules during a race, but doping is invisible?
but i agree. both tarnish the sport and are problems which need to be dealt with.
I’m in favor of both myself, but I think the answer to your question is going to involve a real or perceived “right to privacy”
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Nah, I’m pretty sure Vitus979 doesn’t mind drafting too, he said in a post that sometimes you could avoiding being caught up. Or maybe his bike isn’t braking that well.
Some races are draft legal. Should we also have “drug legal” races?
P
Drugs affect all 3 sports, while drafting only affects the bike (and maybe the run if it makes you bike a little easier).
Make them run a 2 mile penalty loop at Ironman, a 1 mile penalty loop at half ironman and a .5 mile penalty loop at olympic tri. This would be a large enough “fine” that everyone would think twice about drafting. It would remove a person assessed a penalty any hope of being competitive. Sitting in the “sin bin” like in years past was just a nice way of resting up a bit, digesting food and then getting ready for a hammerfest 8:04 and passing Hellriegel at mile 23.
I think that difference in attitudes is explained by three things: (1) how easy it is to find the real cheaters, (2) how easy it is to tell the difference between a real cheater and an inadvertent mistake and (3) privacy concerns.
It’s relatively easy to see if someone is drafting. It’s also fairly easy to tell the difference between someone that is deliberately drafting when compared with someone that violates the anti-drafting rules for a couple seconds if either you or another rider makes a mistake or the course is very crowded. Some judgment calls that you can debate, but that’s the case with almost any rule in sport.
On the other hand, when it comes to drug testing everyone (as opposed to pros or winners of something significant like a trip to Kona), I think it is a lot harder to catch real cheaters and a lot easier to catch people that are innocent. There are an incredible number of ways to cheat. There are also a lot of people that take an OTC medicine for allergies or has a legitimate prescription for medical reasons. If they are caught, you are labelling people as drug cheats because they don’t have their papers completely in order. This is like punishing a driver that does not have a driver’s license with him because he forgot his wallet the same way that you punish a driver that does not have a license because the judge took it away after the third drunking driving offense.
Finally, there is a lot more invasion of your privacy if you are tested for drugs. Again, if you are actually a professional or a really serious competitor, it goes with the territory. But, if you are just having some fun, finish races in the MOP at best and are then asked to pee in a cup? I think that’s offensive.
We had a 1/4 mile penalty run loop at Du Worlds’ this summer. I think that was more of a deterent than a 2:00 add on to your time. If you got dinged twice it was 2 loops, 3 times = DQ.
No need to DQ, just keep making them run loops till they bonk before they even start the real run. Make sure that no aid stations available on penalty loop either. If Van Leirde had to run a 1-2 mile penalty loop in 1996, there is no way he would have caught Hellriegel, who ran a 2:46 that day.
Oracle - you are wise and know everything!!
I saw this rider in a local race is it legal?
No, the rear fairing violates UCI Rule 8(c). But it’s ok for all WTC races. 
-Robert
Francois, relax man. Make em run a penalty lap for blocking too. Blocking is a valid rule, cause if everyone rides the middle of the road, you have to cross the centre line to pass someone, so yes, in my book LVL deserved the penalty.
As for Mark Allan getting a draft off the motorcade in 1995, it is not his reponsibility to “not draft” the motorcade. He deserves an open road and the motorcade needs to ‘stay away’. Whether he go an advantage riding with the group in 1995 vs Hellriegel’s solo breakaway can be debated forever, but he raced within the rules and used them to his advantage. Still, I would have liked to see Hellriegel win in 1995.
I’m pretty sure Vitus979 doesn’t mind drafting too, he said in a post that sometimes you could avoiding being caught up. Or maybe his bike isn’t braking that well.
Yeah, that’s it. I’m all for cheating of all kinds. Remember way back when I asked if anyone was actually worried about people undoing their wetsuit zipper on the swim? That was my sneaky way of trying to find out the best way to do it. Now all I need is a good cheat for the run. Ideas, anyone?
If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying, I always say.
Drafting is far easier to do, cheaper to execute and easier to spot than drug testing - it’s low hanging fruit. Nail this down, then you move on to the drug testing, etc.
BTW, I must have missed the thread where at least 50%+1 of the posters in this forum expressed the opinion that they were strongly against better enforcement of anti-doping rules. Is it possible that you are making this assertion based on anecdotal evidence with a complete lack of scientific data to back it up?
Francois, the rules are the rules. One guy (LVL) broke them by blocking and the other guy (Allen) pushed them to the limit and maximized his advantage by riding in the group/close to motorcade. Don’t get me wrong, i am actually an LVL fan, but if everyone starts blocking then there is no way to pass and that makes it tough on an out and back (or any course). I’m not sayinig that LVL got faster by blocking, all I am saying is that blocking is just as deserving of a penalty as drafting and no, the US is not the only place in the world where blocking is a penalty. It is also a penalty in Canada. If everyone blocks then stud bikers can never get by. Just picture it, three guys all swimming 47 min decide to go to the front of the race and "sit up’ and block the entire road and prevent anyone from passing, without crossing the centre line. Seems both dumb, unfair and dangerous to me.
In-competition drug testing is a waste of time, especially when the drugs which are most beneficial to a triathlete (EPO, hGH) are largely undetectable. EPO is only detectable with 3-5 days of use, but its benefits last for 3 weeks. Dope yourself up 1 week before your IM and you’re sweet.
Drafting is easy to spot and easy to police.
You forgot insulin.
-Robert