Status Update on Anti-Doping Efforts

Jason Koop summarizes and explains where we’re at with anti-doping efforts in Ultra Running for Ultra Running Magazine:

While trail and ultrarunning will certainly go through some bumps and bruises as this patchworked anti-doping system comes to light (if you’ve been paying attention—we already have), let me make one thing clear: the ultimate responsibility is on the athlete and there are no excuses.

But he’s not just asking others to take responsibility, as a coach and mentor he offers these final words:

Sure, it’s a bit of work and effort to get the right information, but it’s also part of our job. So, let’s do this right. Take the time to get educated, then, as the system unfolds, we will all be in a better position to manage it and keep the sport clean.

As someone who finds this world of professional sports very far away from mine I find this article positive in as much as that yes, things are messy and will be messy, but there’s a way to do this right if everyone own’s their roles and responsibility. This seems doable!

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As a side note and question:

Western States Endurance Run will issue an athlete a lifetime ban from the race if they have previously served a ban in any sport from any point in time.

Not sure if this sentence is still up to date with WSER current policy which was just recently updated.