Pre-Competition Testing at PRRO Circuit Events Strengthens Commitment to Clean Sport
Testing At All 2014-2015 PRRO Circuit Events
The
PRRO Championship Circuit, in conjunction with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), has strengthened its commitment to a drug-free sport by funding pre-competition drug testing at all five of its events. The pre-competition testing is conducted in addition to the race-day testing that the PRRO Circuit has funded for the past decade. Pre-competition testing may be administered to any athlete in the field. Since it's conducted a few days prior to the race, it represents a significant deterrent to any runner who might be tempted to take a performance enhancing drug in advance of the race with the expectation that the drug will have cleared the system by race day.
"This is one more way the PRRO Circuit is working to ensure that our elite field of runners
is competing on a clean and level playing field," said PRRO President Don Kardong.
"When there's prize money on the line, we believe races like ours need to make
sure no one is getting an unfair advantage."
The 2014-2015 PRRO Circuit includes the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, New York; the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile in Washington, DC; the Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K in Spokane, Washington; and the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2015 Boilermaker on July 12, 2015, will serve as the PRRO Championship at the conclusion of the 2014-2015 PRRO Championship Circuit.
The PRRO Circuit offers world-class competition in events shorter than the marathon distance, with over $400,000 in prize money. The circuit has shown its commitment to a drug-free sport by funding mandatory drug testing for elite athletes at all PRRO Circuit events. The testing is carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Approximately 50 tests were conducted at PRRO Circuit events during the 2013-2014 season, including pre-competition testing.
A list of the 2014-2015 Circuit events appears below:
Boilermaker 15K,
July 13, 2014 (PRRO
Championship on July 12, 2015), Utica, NY. $40,000 in prize money. $6,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Dick Mattia, 315-732-1949.
2014 Men's winner: Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi, Kenya, 44:18.
Women's winner: Mary Wacera, Kenya, 50:14.
http://www.boilermaker.com/
World's Best 10K,
March 1, 2015, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over $120,000 in prize money and bonuses. $25,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Rafael Acosta,
787-767-2000.
http://www.wb10k.com/?noSplash=1&lang=
Credit Union Cherry
Blossom Ten Mile,
April 12, 2015, Washington, DC. $50,000 in prize money and bonuses. $7,500 for first.
Elite athlete contact: Bill Orr, 863-533-0654.
https://www.cherryblossom.org/
Lilac Bloomsday Run 12K,
May 3, 2015, Spokane, WA. $81,000 in prize money. $7,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Jon Neill, 509-747-0101.
https://www.bloomsdayrun.org/
The AJC Peachtree Road Race,
July 4, 2015, Atlanta, GA. Over $113,000 in prize money. $15,000 for 1st.
Elite athlete contact: Elizabeth Unislawski, 404-231-9064 x11.
http://www.peachtreeroadrace.org/
###
