Nutrition
From USA Triathlon Website on Anti-Doping Education
“USA Triathlon today announced the successful culmination of its inaugural anti-doping testing for an age group event at the 2010 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala. This event marked the first time age-group athletes were tested in-competition, with the program conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).”
Frequently Asked Questions
General
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What role does USA Triathlon play in the testing process?
- USA Triathlon is fully committed to ensuring doping has no place in the sport of triathlon. USADA works with USA Triathlon, as well as all National Governing Bodies, in its anti-doping efforts.
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Why are age group athletes being tested?
- USADA is fully committed to protecting the rights of clean athletes, and just as the temptations and pressures to cheat aren’t limited to elite athletes, the right to compete on a fair and level playing field shouldn’t be limited to elite athletes either. Athletes of all levels should have the reassurance that they do not need to cheat in order to compete and succeed in their sport. USADA continuously works to protect these rights and works closely with USA Triathlon to understand where the potential for cheating exists.
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What substances are being tested for?
- As the national anti-doping agency in the United States, mandated to implement the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code in this country, USADA tests for the substances and methods found on the WADA Prohibited List. Testing at competitions could include special analysis such as for EPO, CIR, hGH, HBT, etc.
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Who will be doing the testing?
- USADA doping control officers (DCOs) conduct all testing. As USADA Staff, DCOs conduct both In-Competition and Out-of-Competition testing of athletes involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement within the United States.
For Athletes
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How are athletes chosen for testing?
- USADA works with USA Triathlon to develop a plan for testing, which at a competition can often include specific place finishers as well as random selections from the field. So, just as an example, that plan may be the top finishers in given categories, and then places such as 10th, 12th, 15th , 18th, 25th, 42nd, 87th, etc. All athletes, however, should understand that they are subject to testing.
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Will age group athletes only be tested on race day?
- Simply put, the overwhelming majority of age-group athletes will only ever experience a doping control during a competition. It is still important to understand however, that a critical component of USADA’s drug testing program is the Out-of-Competition test, and in its efforts to protect the rights of clean athletes, reserves the right to test any NGB member athlete in a no-notice, out-of-competition setting.
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How do I know that I am not taking a banned substance?
- Athletes can check the status of their medications by visiting the Global Drug Reference Online) database. The site allows athletes, coaches, parents or anyone else to search for a substance, by an ingredient, or its generic or brand name. USADA also maintains a drug reference phone line that allows athletes to connect with an expert regarding their medication. Keep in mind that neither resource provides information on dietary supplements.
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Can taking a dietary supplement trigger a positive test?
- Unfortunately, due to the lack of regulation present in today’s nutritional supplement marketplace, including the existence of unscrupulous, rogue supplement manufactures, USADA is unable to provide direction or guidance as to which dietary supplements are safe, and which contain prohibited substances. USADA is currently working with the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, USOC and other national sports and health organizations to eliminate this uncertainty in the marketplace. The effort, called “Supplement Safety Now” includes media outreach and grassroots mobilization. USADA is also in the process of launching an online portal specifically dedicated to the questions and issues surrounding supplements.