Recently the ITU (International Triathlon Union) announced that it will begin testing elite and age group athletes at the BG Triathlon World Championships this year in Hamburg, Germany.
The recent ITU Statement is below:
"Dear representatives of the National Triathlon Federations,
"On behalf of the International Triathlon Union and the German Triathlon Federation, the hosts and organizers of the Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships would like us to inform you about some important details in regards to the handling and execution of the current ITU Anti-Doping Program during the event in Germany:
"During the World Championships, the ITU will carry out a high number of doping controls. In conformity with the International Standards for Testing urine samples will be taken, as well as blood samples. Thereby Age Group, Junior, Under 23 and Elite athletes will all be monitored. The ITU intensifies its fight against doping by conducting strict pre-competition controls beside the regular competition controls.
"We want you to forward the following information to all of your national athletes taking part in Hamburg - as soon as possible:
"According to the WADA Code and rule 4.4. of the ITU Anti-Doping Rules each participating athlete with documented medical conditions requiring the use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method basically has to exhibit a therapeutic use exemption (TUE). Thereby, each athlete is generally obliged to provide a TUE issued by ITU (Rule 4.4.2.).
"For the purpose of these provisions the ITU and the anti-doping administrator will accept for the facilitation of the result management the following:
"1. For Junior, U 23 and elite competitors: TUE´s issued by their National Anti-Doping-Organizations in compliance with the WADA-Code and the International Standard for TUE.
"2. For athletes taking part at the ITU Age Group World Championships: the presentation of medical certificates including medical diagnosis and prescribed substances. In relation to the facilitation for Age Group athletes, the ITU reserves its right to evaluate their presented certificates and to deny the acceptance.
"During the BG Triathlon World Championships 2007 testing will take place for the juniors, U23, elite and age group athletes. In case they are chosen to be tested the athlete needs to carry a copy of his identity card including a photo. "
It is an open secret that a surprisingly large percentage of wining age-group Ironman athletes are on the juice.
It is an open secret that both NAS (North American Sports) and the WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) and the USA Triathlon know and do not acknowledge. It is now past high time that NAS, the WTC and USA Triathlon work together to tackle this issue head on and begin random testing of all age-group Kona slot and 70.3 World Championships entry winners.
I would go so far as to say that they should randomly test any age-group athlete who competes in any Ironman or USA Triathlon sanctioned race.
Why?
Because it is completely and utterly unfair to all of us clean athletes who train and sacrifice to compete against, and in the same race, as athletes using performance enhancing drugs.
I for one do not even want to be toe to toe at the starting line with cheaters.
I don't care if I'm in the same age-group or caliber with these cheating athletes, but using any sort of drug to enhance performance completely degrades the hard work that we've done to get to this point.
To me it is just like somebody who cheats in class to get ahead, or who steals to benefit themselves.
Athletes who are using drugs are stealing somebody's podium place, Kona slot, 70.3 World championship entry, and hard work and effort, along with the reputation of the sport.
It seems pretty obvious that with no enforcement, and no penalties for breaking the rules, comes no compliance.
Thus it should come as no surprise to anybody that age-group athletes are on the juice.
Is it not now beyond the time that NAS, the WTC, and USA Triathlon get off of their butts and start testing age-group athletes?
The technology exists, they have the money, they just need the will and a good enough reason.
Personally, I would think watching the slow motion destruction of the Tour de France this year over this very same issue would be reason enough.
I would humbly suggest that somebody better take the driver's seat on this issue very soon before it blows up and takes the reputation of the sport with it...not to mention the valuable business for both NAS and the WTC.