New Anti-Doping Program

I am torn with this; I don't know what's the % of people using enhancement drugs to cheat but my guess is not all that much and the the way it seems the program is going to work seems like it won't be all that effective. It is a noble idea just I don't know how effective realistically this can be.

1st why are they only going to test 'elite' AGers (whatever that means), I mean, people at the front are they the only ones prone to cheating? Or it is ok for those behind to cheat because there is not much on the line, not that there is much to be gain even if you place besides bragging rights or a trip to kona or clearwater where you earn the right to spend even more of your own $$ on WTC.

2nd if they indeed include AGers on OOC testing hows it is going to work if when an AGer misses one due to work or other life priority? What about if an ahletes returns a positive test cuz he/she took some sudafed for a cold or is a pot user from time to time or from taking a legal supplement with cross contamination of some banned substance? What are the repercussions and how cam a positive result from an activity done as a hobby affect and potentially impact the AGers live livehood (job)?

3rd I think there are other things which should be addressed ASAP that affect much more all participants from FOP to BOP such as drafting. Why not instead invest some of the $$ in better ways to improve this or make penalties more severe?

4th and last but not least, IMO they could use the $$ to better test pro athletes who are the ones to benefit the most from doping. Make testing for them better/tougher and instead of wasting a bunch of $$ on AG testing better offer them better price purses or benefits.

In the end, if an AGer has such a low selfesteem to put their bodies through that risk for a Kona slot, then go nuts. But I think the annoucement is more like PR stuff; sort of like yes "look at us, we are willing to go through all this trouble to test even AGers" but in practice I wonder how many will in fact have to go through the process. It is their race and they are free to set any rules they want and if you want to play in their games you'll have to play by their rules; since I am racing LP 2010 let's see what I need to do.

I was reading about this on that other forum over the weekend.  My question is...aren't there over the counter products that contain banned substances?

A family friend was an elite/pro marathoner back in the day (15 years ago, maybe), and I recall hearing that he had to be careful with ingredients in over the counter drugs/products, as some ingredients might cause him to fail a doping test. 

It that is still the case, it seems a little extreme for a recreational athlete to keep track of that...albeit a very good recreational athlete!  I mean, the pros probably have people to advise and track them on what they can and cannot ingest...other athletes probably don't. 

Also, the implications go beyond medalling...if an elite age grouper tests positive for a banned substance that is also found in, say, Robitussin...it isn't just the medal that is in jeopardy.  What if their employer or a client happens upon that info...that a medal was taken away b/c of a positive drug test?  They might not know enough to realized that there is a difference b/w a USAT/WTC banned substance and cocaine, or some other drug that could cost a lot of people their job/living!

As hard as folks work for those Kona slots they deserve a fair shot.