The world’s top marathon runners, including Mo Farah and Eliud Kipchoge, are set to face more comprehensive scrutiny under a “groundbreaking” anti-doping programme that focuses on investigation and intelligence-driven testing.
The new programme, which was announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit and the Abbott World Marathon Majors, is response to the growing awareness that drugs testing alone is not catching enough cheats.
Hugh Brasher, the event director of the London Marathon, said that the World Marathon Majors had given the AIU a “big six-figure sum” in order to protect the integrity of their races. “It is the biggest amount of money, to our knowledge, that has ever been spent on private testing programmes,” he said. “But we are absolutely determined to have a sport of integrity.”
In recent years the Olympic champion Jemima Sumgong and the former Chicago and Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo have been given lengthy bans. But Brett Clothier, the AIU head, said that greater investigative work needed to be done to catch more cheats.
“Testing alone can’t protect the integrity of these events or any sporting event or catch and deter sophisticated drug cheats,” he said. “Unfortunately that is just the reality. Few drugs tests turn into positives. So you need to gather intelligence in order to conduct investigations and bring cases not just based on testing.
“The World Marathon Majors are funding a programme that isn’t just about the numbers game in funding tests, they are investing heavily specifically into resources into intelligence and investigations. This is the way forward as far as anti-doping is concerned.”
A pool of 150 elite runners will be monitored in greater depth, with those athletes considered to be at higher risk of doping subject to greater target testing. “We will look at each athlete’s biological passport profile, track their performances really closely, and we look at other factors and split the group of 150 into high risk and low risk,” Clothier said.
“The money will also allow more investigations to take place where they are needed. It is a very tangible investment in ramping up the investigations and intel capability.”
