For a Clean Sport

Sabrina Little for iRunFar ponders the ethics around doping for non-professional runners:

This is another reason why we should maintain consistent moral norms across non-professional and professional racing: Professional runners do not just materialize from thin air. They are introduced to the sport and mentored through the running community at large. If that community has a cavalier attitude toward drugs, or is broadly complicit in illicit supplementation, this makes compunctions around drugs less acute at all levels of the sport.

This article is in response to the ‘Cam vs. Sage‘ saga that’s been swirling around the social media channels and has resulted in a official complaint with USADA.

For me the issue with doping is that this is one of these subjects that does have an effect on the community. If you’re just a solo runner, outdoorsman, and bow hunter, and you like to put things into your body, be my guest, I couldn’t care less. But as an influencer who’s build an empire inspiring others to ‘keep hammering’ or what ever you do, you’re not just a random amateur. You’ve build and you’re representing a community and that is part of your business strategy. Be transparent and don’t be like the ‘Liver King‘. But, and this is not “gatekeep-y”, once you start participating officially sanctioned events, and you bring all the attention of your social media community with you, you do need to submit yourself to the ‘rules of the game’ that exists. And that doesn’t matter if these rules are basic trail etiquette, mandatory gear, or doping regulations. Carving out exceptions is what erodes community and creates division and that is something worth standing up to.