On Tuesday, Western States Endurance Run (WSER) revealed a brand new partnership with the U.S. Anti-Doping Company (USADA), unrolling new laws round anti-doping and reaffirming the race’s “persevering with dedication to scrub sport,” as their web site explains. Right here’s what it’s essential to know.
Whereas WSER has for years had drug testing in place, the earlier insurance policies weren’t as stringent (and weren’t ruled by USADA). For some runners wanting to toe the road in Auburn, Calif., on June 29, the foundations and expectations round testing at the moment are extra clearly laid out; others have extra questions and are requesting additional clarification.
As a part of its ongoing dedication to scrub sport, Western States Endurance Run is proud to announce a brand new anti-doping coverage and partnership with the US Anti-Doping Company (USADA), the chief in anti-doping in the US. https://t.co/GGVNJovRL5
— Western States 100 (@wser) April 2, 2024
Entry guidelines
WSER’s entry guidelines clarify that athletes discovered responsible of doping offenses by governing our bodies like WADA or USADA are barred from taking part in WSER throughout their interval of ineligibility. Moreover, any athlete subjected to a ban of three months or extra is ineligible except in any other case authorised by WSER. Beforehand, athletes who had any infractions towards the WADA code had been banned for all times from taking part in WSER—however, as ultrarunning world champ Camille Herron explains on X, the brand new coverage permits for “extra leniency of entry for many who got a warning/1-2 month ban.”
Extra leniency of entry for many who had been ~given a warning/1-2 month ban. Ex.- didn’t get a TUE/up to date TUE for a medicine, caught for THC over the brink, unknowingly took fluid IV outdoors of medical setting. Respect due diligence of the @wser BOD x w/ @usantidoping 👏.
— Camille Herron 🦸♀️ (@runcamille) April 3, 2024
Levelling the taking part in subject
WSER will likely be taking testing severely and concentrating on elite athletes and high age-group opponents for post-race urine and/or blood testing. Pattern assortment and evaluation will likely be dealt with by USADA, guaranteeing a radical and clear course of. USADA will even be accountable for outcomes administration, together with speaking with athletes relating to check outcomes, investigating violations and imposing sanctions as mandatory. WSER additionally reserves the suitable to impose its personal sanctions.
These Canadians are headed to Western States or Hardrock 100 in 2024
Prohibited substances
WSER strictly adheres to the WADA (World Anti Doping Company) Code, prohibiting the usage of substances on the WADA Prohibited Record. Athletes are accountable for figuring out and complying with these guidelines. The WSER web site offers assets to assist athletes verify their medicines and means that runners be extraordinarily cautious when utilizing dietary supplements.
Would like to see extra races, firms (@AravaipaRunning ), and race sequence (@UTMBWorldSeries , @worldtrailmajrs , Golden Path Collection) observe the lead of WS x @usantidoping & undertake an anti-doping coverage. 3 month ban or extra are deemed to have dedicated a severe offense.
— Camille Herron 🦸♀️ (@runcamille) April 3, 2024
Athlete response
The up to date drug insurance policies have garnered some optimistic responses on social media, whereas some athletes, equivalent to Canadian professional mountaineer and ultrarunner Adam Campbell, are asking for additional clarification.
WSER has a partnership with path operating large UTMB, and whereas NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, together with aspirin and ibuprofen) are, notably, banned in any respect UTMB races, runners at WSER wouldn’t be examined for them beneath these new tips.
“The difficulty is the phrases aren’t clearly outlined,” Campbell posted on X. “Robust stances often demand larger readability. If UTMB sanctioned somebody for a doping violation how would WSER deal with it? Their potential violations don’t essentially sync with WADA—looks like an inexpensive query to make clear.” On the time of publication, the race had not but responded.
The 2024 version of WSER will happen on June 29-30. For extra info on WSER’s new anti-doping insurance policies, click on right here.
