UTMB Expands Doping Controls

Via Press Email:

UTMB Group strengthens its commitment to clean trail-running

• 100,000 Euro investment in 2024
• Tests conducted by the International Testing Agency (ITA), an independent organization
• Creation of UTMB World Series anti-doping rules in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
• Educative training program for elite athletes and their managers to support and guide them in their practices

This announcement directly connects to yesterday’s status update on doping controls in trail running. And as Jason Koop pointed out in that post, these steps are incremental, probably not enough to catch everyone, but it’s pointing in the right direction.

Corrine Malcolm for PTRA adds (this was shared via the UTMB press email!):

“The anti-doping testing and framework that you’ll see implemented as in-competition controls as part of the UTMB World Series this year is more than a year in the making. We (the PTRA) are incredibly happy to be working with the team at UTMB Group and at the ITA to take what is the first of many steps forward when it comes to safe and fair sport in trail and ultrarunning. We recognize that in-competition controls are just one of many steps needed, and will continue to work with UTMB Group and the ITA to carry out athlete, team, and race personnel education. I want to recognize that this is no small feat and commend UTMB Group for putting up the financial resources to make this first piece of the puzzle possible.”

Just yesterday I was wondering out loud about the PTRA on a different matter. Great to see their work carry fruition, and yes, it’s again in partnership with UTMB.