What is the evidence that makes people think there is so much doping amongst KQ’ers?
And the crickets chirp…silence.
A. The evidence of doping in amateur triathlon seems lacking due to the fact that they are not testing, although surveys have been cited in this thread… That said, the use of testosterone seems like it is increasing in society (https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/mens-use-of-hormone-on-the-rise/). I cannot listen to my regular sports radio on my commute to and from work without hearing an advertisement for NuMale Medical. The use of testosterone seems to have become normalized. This leads me to believe that it has made its way into our sport.
B. The proportion of KQers doping vs the larger participant pool is irrelevant to my personal rational for why I would like to see KQers. While I am against the use of PEDs, the cost to other participants is minimal when a 15hr Ironman finisher uses PEDs. What did that person take away from the person that finished behind them? One spot in the placing? For the people aspiring to KQ a lot is on the line. When a KQer uses PEDs they have taken that KQ from someone else, which in many cases is taking someone’s dream. There is a lot more at stake when it comes to the KQ.
With my first two points aside, what sort of evidence would you suggest is gathered? My suggestion would be to test. It seems like you are saying because we do not test there is no evidence, and because there is no evidence we should not test…