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World Marathon Majors ramp up drug testing

The World Marathon Majors are increasing testing of elite athletes.
Photo: Photorun.net

An announcement made Wednesday by the Abbott World Marathon Majors signals an increase in testing of the elites looking for a shot at the $500,000 prize pot the organization offers.

The new anti-doping initiative, in collaboration with the International Association of Athletics Federations, will widen the pool of potential athletes who are subject to in- and out-of-competition testing.

The expanded pool will include any athlete who has scored points in the WMM system since 2012. The series includes the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City marathons, meaning the pool will be quite large. Still, any athlete who has run under 2:11 or 2:27 as a male or female, respectively, and is signed up to compete in a major is also subject to testing as well as half-marathoners with similar credentials making their marathon debut. The WMM and IAAF also added a catchall clause which will allow them to test “any other athlete deemed fit for inclusion,” who will be competing.

Officials anticipate the testing pool to include about 150 athletes.

“The race directors of the AWMM are determined to eradicate cheating in our events,” said Nick Bitel, the organization’s general counsel, in a press release “We believe that this new testing pool initiative, set up in conjunction with the IAAF, is a major step forward in achieving our aim.”

The new testing program is the largest anti-doping initiative ever by a private race series and comes in the wake of multiple high-profile road running elites and track runners have tested positive for PEDs.

The organization also recently agreed to help fund anti-doping facilities in East Africa.

The next World Marathon Major race will be the Boston Marathon on April 20.

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