Jack Kelly The Triathlon Hour

[Ajax_Bay]

@Bryancd

@runningeconomy

There was the whole incident on their out-of-competition drug testing pool research which placed some athletes in an awkward position through no fault of their own. Was it Holly Lawrence who reacted and PTN had to backtrack/further clarify what exactly they were trying to say?

But this is case in point. That was a news worthy story and one they investigated and broke. Just because it put out some pro’s who were likely aware they had fallen through the drug testing cracks is irrelevant. The result of the story was a positive change in the policy.

Absolutely agree: and timely remedial action achieved (PTO: we’d been getting a round tuit). Not ‘breaking news’: campaigning journalism with a foundation of hard graft.

ProTriNews were deliberate and clear with the caveat that it’s not up to the athlete whether they’re in an RTP. Lawrence had not ‘fallen through the cracks’: she’d just (weeks before) been taken off the IRONMAN list (presumably 'cos pregnant) with an element of ‘why are they asking me’ persecution.
But TC did not msg saying “Holly, you are worrying me”.
ProTriNews did not ‘backtrack’ imho but did reiterate my first sentence: governing (and similar) body responsibility.

I have recently (early 2025) tried to replicate what @talbotcox sleuthed way back when and it’s far from easy: one can get the World Triathlon RTP (which has a selection of higher ranked SC athletes and T100 ones) and the Ironman RTP. But then looking to see whether athletes not listed in those two are on their national RTP is a ‘multi-national’ challenge.
Edit to add:

“It’s crucial to understand that the lack of testing isn’t an athlete’s choice but a shortfall of organizational action.” Note IRONMAN efforts. NB Just after the unexpected men’s result in Singapore.
Full ST treatment: T100 Triathlon World Tour (PTO 2024) - #362 by Lagoon
And PTO gets it done:
T100 Triathlon World Tour (PTO 2024) - #426 by Lagoon