Received an email from Ironman about Anti-Doping Rules and Responsibilities:
Good afternoon,
We trust you are looking forward to the upcoming IRONMAN World Championship!
We want to ensure that you understand your rights and responsibilities as an athlete subject to the IRONMAN Anti-Doping rules. As a starting point, please watch the "[Anti-Doping for Age Group Athletes] video.
Likewise, we have provided some important information below, as well as helpful links for addressing any additional questions you may have.
As part of your registration for the IRONMAN World Championship, you have agreed to the following:
To make yourself available at any time and any place for testing, regardless of whether you are currently part of a Registered testing pool.
Never been tested? Check out the [video] on our website which illustrates what to expect during a sample collection session.
To submit to a urine test, blood test, dried blood spot test or any combination of the above, if requested.
To be personally responsible for knowing and complying with the [IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules]
To personally know what substances and methods are on the [Prohibited List] Prescription medications, supplements, common beverages, and other āover-the-counterā or otherwise legal products may contain Prohibited Substances.
Check [GlobalDro]before using any substance!
Be an informed consumer when it comes to decisions related to supplements and sports nutrition products. Verify that any supplements have been certified by one of the organizations listed on our [website].
To seek a Therapeutic Use Exemption (āTUEā) from your National Anti-Doping Organization (āNADOā) or Regional Anti-Doping Organization (āRADOā) if you use or intend to use a Prohibited substance. Please contact your National Anti-Doping Organization if you have questions in this regard. IRONMAN recognizes all compliant TUE decisions made by other Anti-Doping organizations.
The [Anti-Doping section] of the IRONMAN website contains additional educational material, as well as [FAQs] about your rights and responsibilities, so we encourage you to review in its entirety.
Please donāt hesitate to reach out to us should you encounter any questions when reviewing the information above and on our website- we will be happy to assist you in ensuring your compliance. We may be reached at iamtrue@ironman.com.
Not for normal races! I would be shocked if they do test anyone. At Roth they were there but from what I read it was only top3 AG. I was 9th AG and walked right by
I have some first had experience with this - they do indeed test Age Groupers, at registration, not just the AG winners.
On my second trip to IMWC, at registration my race packet was red and the volunteer had a notice flagged on the electronic registration. It may have been randomly selected, but in advance of the race. To be honest, it was all pretty exciting, and I was more than happy to be tested.
That being said, educate yourself about the process. The Australian anti-doping authority ASADA has a VERY good online course about the testing process, your rights, how it works, how to find the prohibited list, TUEs etc.
I had done the course sometime ago, so had some understanding of what was involved, but it could be a pretty daunting process if youāre not really clear on what is going on. I did notice a couple of people also being tested having language/translation issues.
Iām happy to answer questions about my experience with it, but Iām not prepared to provide any information or advice (in case I get it wrong!)
This happened to me at Nice '23. Big red dot on my registration packet then Paula Newby Fraser escorted me to a nearby hotel for the tests. I loved it, it was a great experience!
So Iām curious, do they give an all clear report as after the test? If you were a doper, do they know before the race starts and the stop you from racing or just delete results afterwards? Any info they give you, like oops you might have cancer or should get this checked out?
I donāt think they test for cancer or anything else. It cost money and they aināt the right forum for this as well
Donāt think the results are instantaneous as well, perhaps someone can advise. Have the impression if you are positive, you will be notified a few weeks later?
it does take roughly 2 to 3 weeks until they get a result. ie see Imogen was racing something like 8 days after providing a positive sample
and surprisingly they did sent and email a few weeks ago to one of my atheltes to give a green light ( I no doping offence). that was like to first time in about 20 tests I would be aware that they did that. the rule is you get contacted if there is an issue.
and they also say that when they test you ( I can tell you my hr did go a bit higher when I was sent an email regarding the drug test ā¦)
I had one athelte tested last weekend by the same crowed that had send a negative result so iam interested if they will send another letter.
and no 0 info ie you suggest potential cancer etc
as for the dried blood test given that they are not that reliable I wonder what they actually do if there was a positive.
I would imagine they would take a blood and urine test, but iam not certain. as I cant really see how you could ban somebody on a dried blood test.
I actually have to read up on that.
See hereās where they are going wrong. Find a blood lab sponsor. Monetize that crap and give you a full report.
"Weāre taking a blood test for antidoping, if you fill out this payment form here we can give you the full report with all your levels, analysis etc. "
Suddenly, youāve got a sponsor being willing to offer drug analysis for free if they can upsell you on the report.
Next thing you know Ironman anti doping is wanting to test as many people as they can to get a commission on the upsell.
the little issue is that of all the doping tests the blood one is the most expensive as you need a person on side that has has some medical qualification to take bloods.
the labs that analyse the doping tests are accredited and could not handle the load either. ie very few of them can analyse the samples.
yeah, to be honest it probably would have burnt a hole in the cup.
To answer some of the other queries:
no, there was no āall clearā email, this may have changed, but it would seem an unneeded admin burden. I had assumed that I would only notified if there was an issue.
The test consists of both blood and urine samples, one blood sample, and the 2 urine sample gets separated into 2 pots (you do this yourself in front of the official).
So does anyone have any experience of actually getting tested in a IM (not roth)
Between myself and my partner , we have done over 60 Iām in the last 20 years
Neither of us have ever been tested or ever spoke to anyone that has been tested
Admittedly we have done most of our races in oceana
But we have also done kona over 10 times
my partner hasnāt lost a race (apart from Hawaii) since 2018 so plenty of podiums , but never a sign of being tested
Pre race , post race or out of race !!!
I think everyone on the podium should be tested, but it seems IM donāt really give a stuff and this email saying they may test u , is just a wind up to make out they are/will actually do something
Personally, I donāt know if this is close to what the actual cost is for a podium finisher at an IM event. If one accepted that the cost is half this amount, to test three podium finishers in an AG, the cost is $6,750. If the average charge to a participant $20 you need 337 people - in each AG.
If we consider the complaints on the cost for an IM event, adding the cost to test every podium finisher is high = more complaints on the cost. $100 per participant you need 67 participants.
Yes the cost is horrendously expensive and hence why there is no widespread testing
Yes I have been tested before. Wasnāt on the podium and it was a urine test at the end of the race. Think it was 2022. There were a few others, you basically keep drinking till you can peeā¦: