How does triathlon test for doping?

The recent positive doping test by US triathlete Collin Chartier not only caused outrage in the professional side of the sport, but also raised questions about how testing is being conducted to root out cheating and whether it’s being done effectively.

Here, we provide an overview of how triathlon’s different organisations attempt to tackle performance enhancing drug use through their testing procedures.

Who’s in charge of administering drug tests in triathlon?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sets the framework for anti-doping policies in global sport, with most sports adhering to its code.

This means they follow established protocols for conducting tests, use WADA-accredited laboratories to analyse samples, and manage the results, including issuing sanctions, in a pre-defined manner.

The idea is that the WADA code not only aligns anti-doping measures, but gives a legally robust system to defend any challenges to positive tests.

Under the WADA code, organisations (Ironman, World Triathlon) and national anti-doping authorities (UKAD, USADA) are responsible for implementing the drug-testing protocols, deciding how much drug testing will take place and utilising their budgets in the most effective manner possible in the fight against doping in sport.

For example, in the case of Collin Chartier – a long distance triathlete – Ironman conducted an out-of-competition test that returned a positive result for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO. Ironman appoints the International Testing Agency [ITA] to run its intelligence and investigations, and results management side of anti-doping.

How do triathlon’s different organisations test for doping?

There are two main ways organisations test for doping in sport. The first is in-competition drug testing where both professionals and age-groupers agree to be tested either before or after a race.

This doesn’t mean there will be testing at every event, neither does it indicate who will be tested.

Testing is much more common with professional athletes than age-groupers given the prize money on the line, and the athletes that finish further up the field – particularly on the podium – are more likely to be tested as well.

It also depends on which organisation is hosting the race and how important that race is in the season’s calendar. For example, expect more testing at the Ironman World Championship than Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire.

The other way of testing athletes is out-of-competition tests, where a doping control officer is typically sent to an athlete’s home or training base to take samples of blood or urine, or both.

Often high-profile athletes are in registered testing pools (RTP) for out-of-competition tests. For example, an Ironman champion like Daniela Ryf would be in Ironman’s RTP and an Olympic champion such as Jonny Brownlee in World Triathlon’s RTP. Athletes are usually only in one RTP to try and maximise resources.

Athletes sign-up to the ADAMS whereabouts systems where they are required to make themselves available for a one-hour slot every day. A dedicated app allows them to easily update their location and time slot, with many athletes choosing early in the morning or late in the evening.

This might mean they are occasionally woken up by testers, but reduces the chances of them being out and recording a missed test because three missed tests within a given period can lead to a sanction.

Triathlon’s major event organisers all conduct some kind of anti-doping measures for their events. For example, the ITA, a not-for-profit body, handles Ironman’s anti-doping protocols.

Meanwhile, Super League Triathlon partners with World Triathlon and uses one of its WADA-approved anti-doping testing providers, and Challenge Family, which mainly runs as a franchise model, states it is mandatory for its race owners to implement a drug testing programme with their relevant national federation.

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) also says it tests all athletes in its tour events. While this is a mixture of dried blood spot (DBS) testing pre-race and post-race urine and blood samples, it is still to confirm which WADA-accredited bodies are involved with administering the process or whether its testing currently sits outside the WADA code.

How many pro athletes are tested and when?

The number of pros and timing of the tests varies and depends on multiple factors such as the organisations involved, the profile of the athlete or the races they enter, and even the country they come from.

World Triathlon’s annual anti-doping report for 2022 shows 1,317 (82 blood, 1,235 urine) in-competition and 277 (155 blood, 122 urine) out-of-competition samples were collected and analysed in 2022.

On an individual level, for example, in the USA Olympic hopefuls Matt McElroy, Kevin McDowell and Kirsten Kasper were tested eight times in 2022 by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Ironman currently has 46 triathletes in its RTP, with more than 90 athletes in the World Triathlon RTP.

However, this doesn’t stop organisations conducting out-of-competition tests on athletes who are not in their testing pools if there is enough intelligence.

How are they tested?

Triathletes are typically tested for blood or urine, or both, and the sample is split into an A and B sample and sent to WADA-accredited laboratory for the A sample to be tested and the B sample stored.

To avoid manipulation, only the triathlete handles and seals the sample vials, under the supervision of a doping control officer of the same sex.

While the most common forms of drug testing are through individual samples, some athletes might also hold an Athlete Biological Passport. This is effectively an ongoing analysis of their blood values.

It means that any spike in readings, such as hematocrit levels, which measure the percentage of red blood cells in your blood, for example, can be flagged up for anti-doping authorities.

A new form of sample collection called Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing is also being introduced. In contrast to traditional techniques for taking urine and blood, this involved slicing a few capillaries from the skin with a specific device that can then be analysed in a similar way.

What are they tested for?

Drug testing can become quite nuanced because not every sample is tested for every type of drug. It’ll depend on what is asked for by the anti-doping body and what the laboratory is capable of screening for.

This is partly why samples are stored and retested years later as more tests for performance enhancing substances evolve. But it has to be done before the statute of limitations expires.

Common banned substances athletes test positive for include EPO, testosterone and human growth hormone. Athletes and coaches can check substances and medications to see what is prohibited here.

How does testing work at age-group level?

Many amateur triathletes may be unaware, but when you sign-up for an Ironman event you are also agreeing to be drug tested should the organisation see fit.

In practice, this rarely happens other than at events such as the world championships, where high numbers of competitive age-groupers may be present.

There have also been known to be occasional targeted out of competition tests, particularly when a triathlete has produced an outlier result in their age-group or Ironman is working on intelligence such as a tip-off.

Top image credit: Kyle Rivas/Getty Images for Ironman