Triathlon's Latest Doping Sanction Raises More Questions than Answers

TOGETHER WITH PURPLE PATCH FITNESS

Good morning everyone,

I had a great weekend at 70.3 Michigan and surprised myself with an unexpected podium finish coming across the line in third place.

Of course, results are always nice. However, a huge highlight of the weekend was connecting with other athletes and awesome Tempo subscribers like Kari and Marc, who I happened to run into at a local brewery during the post-race rehydration process 🍻 (good luck in Chattanooga!). And Tonya and Dave who I ran into at the awards ceremony.

• And I had a blast hanging out with long-time subscriber, Dean Harper, and his talented son Greg who let me crash with them during the weekend!

Triathlon is nothing without the incredible people who are involved. And I’m lucky to spend time with so many exceptional athletes and individuals!

In today’s edition:

• ⁉️ Triathlon’s latest doping sanction raises more questions than answers.

• 😴 The right dosage, and timing for a popular - and effective - sleep supplement.

• 🏃 And six of the most common running mistakes you might be making!

Thanks for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.

ONE BIG THING

Latest Triathlon Doping Sanction Raises More Questions Than Answers

What is it: Late last week, the surprise winner of this year’s IRONMAN Texas - Tomas Rodriguez Hernandez - accepted a 2-year competition ban due to an anti-doping rule violation after testing positive for the banned substance; clomifene.

• Clomifene is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List as it has the potential effects of boosting or restoring Testosterone production which increases muscle mass.

• According to the US anti-doping authority, the use of clomifene can result in an increased risk of negative cardiovascular events and liver damage.

Tomas talks: In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Rodriguez Hernandez confirmed an agreement with the International Testing Agency (ITA) that he had accepted a suspension from competition.

• However, he did emphasize that “I am accepting the suspension, but not the allegation of doping.”

Two years in total: According to the ITA’s statement, Rodriguez Hernandez was given the default sanction for an anti-doping rule violation for clomifene, which is two years of competition ineligibility.

• For many anti-doping violations, the typical period of ineligibility is four years.

But in the case of Rodriguez Hernandez, a two-year sanction reflects that he may have proven, to some degree, that he was not at fault, or, there was a degree of negligence as to why there was the presence of clomifene in his sample (see section 10.6.1.1. of the IRONMAN anti-doping rules).

• This suggests that his theory of testing positive due to a diet of contaminated chicken and eggs may have been more plausible than originally perceived.

Timeout timing: The ITA’s statement breaks down Rodriguez Hernandez’s period of ineligibility.

• He will be unable to compete starting from June 6, 2024 through till June 5, 2026.

• He has also been disqualified from competitive results from April 27, 2024. This means that he will no longer be the winner of IRONMAN Texas. That crown will now belong to Patrick Lange (GER).

Tempo’s take: The two-year ban no longer makes this incident a black-or-white situation. He may have taken clomifene deliberately to cheat, or, he may have had too much clomifene chicken, or, as far as we know, he could have been at Costco the day before the race and gone crazy on some clomifene-contaminated samples!

• If this is a case of contamination and unintentional consumption, then the ITA needs to be more transparent about its decision. Ultimately it is a teachable moment for athletes to understand another possible way to test positive for a banned substance, and how to avoid it.

And greater transparency would also shed more light on the athlete who is now perceived as a drug cheat. If the reasoning for a reduced two-year sentence was revealed, maybe public opinion would be swayed, and Rodriguez Hernandez would be vindicated.

• Global anti-doping institutions are facing a legitimacy crisis. Especially after it was discovered that over 20 Chinese swimmers were secretly cleared to compete at the Olympics even after testing positive for a banned substance.

In the interest of restoring public trust, there must be greater transparency in these anti-doping decisions.

TOGETHER WITH PURPLE PATCH FITNESS

Optimize your Off-Season for your Best Year Ever

Want a breakthrough performance in 2025? The magic starts with this off-season.

Join IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon on Thursday, September 26 at 9 AM Pacific for an exclusive webinar on optimizing your off-season. You’ll discover how to approach this critical phase of the year so you can fully recharge and rejuvenate while also targeting key elements of technique, skills, and resilience that will turbocharge your performance next year!

• You’ll also learn to avoid common mistakes made during the off-season and improve your strength, tissue resilience, and injury resistance.

A well-executed off-season is the #1 predictor of performance success in the upcoming season – so don’t miss out on these winter training insights. Can’t join live? No problem: all registrants will get a copy of the on-demand replay after the event. All registrants will also get a FREE consultation with one of our expert coaches to help you dial in your off-season strategy.

• Transform your off-season by registering HERE today!

FAVORITES

😴 Aid your sleep: If you’re looking to improve your quality of sleep, supplementing with Melatonin can be a great way to achieve longer and higher-quality rest. But how much should you take? And when is the best time to take the sleep savior? Find out here. [Tom Coughlin]

🚵 Not so Nice: Want to experience this weekend’s IRONMAN World Championship bike course in Nice, France without having to grind up the steep ascents (and from the comfort of home)? Then check out this brilliant breakdown of the nine key sections that will be sure to cause chaos this Sunday! [Precision Hydration]

🏃 Six running mistakes: Triathletes (and runners) can sometimes make a few mistakes. And that’s OK! But if you want to avoid some of the most common running (and training) pitfalls, check out this article. Number three is critical! [New York Times]

🤯 World’s hardest tri: The Arch 2 Arc triathlon, consisting of a run from Marble Arch to Dover, a cross-channel swim, and finishing with a ride to the Arc de Triomphe has only been completed by 60 people. And Paul Robinson just completed it in an incredible record-breaking time! [BBC]

REEL TIME

Lets be real, sometimes we’re the speedster, other times…the roadblock! 🤣

runvictoriamarathon

View more on Instagram

QUICK NEWS

USA Triathlon Nationals: There were plenty of Champions at this past weekend’s USA Triathlon National Championships, and all the action took place on the iconic Atlantic City boardwalk! [USA Triathlon]

Alex’s adulation: Olympic Champion Alex Yee (GBR) is basking in the post-Paris glow as he inspires the next generation of athletes, and, turns up the heat on rival Hayden Wilde (NZ). [Daily Mail]

Multisport Frogs: The TCU Horned Frogs won their second consecutive Duquesne Invitational. They now have their sights set on their home race - The Battle in the Fort - on September 29th. [TCU]

RACE WEEKEND

IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan

Jackson Laundry (CAN) won his second consecutive 70.3 Michigan, and Jeannie Metzler took her second podium in a row with a strong performance across all three disciplines.

Full results

Challenge Almere-Amsterdam

A competitive race that also doubled as the European Long Distance Championships saw Marlene De Boer (NED) take a massive win in front of the home crowd. And Jesper Svensson (SWE) used a powerful bike/run combo to take a well-deserved win.

Full results

World Triathlon World Cup Valencia

Lisa Tertsch (GER) and David Cantero (ESP) both became two-time champions in Valencia with blistering fast run splits!

Full results

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• How did Blueseventy redesign its iconic Helix wetsuit? Backwards shorts!

• Why this performance psychologist wants you to celebrate the small wins!

• Why you need to train faster (not harder!) - vol 3 

LATEST EDITIONS

• When to replace your running shoes. Plus: How to fuel an IRONMAN World Championship!

• Triathlon’s media madness, and how training changes after 40.

• IRONMAN reveals stacked start list for Nice. Plus: why you need wider tires!