World Marathon
Majors Introduces Tougher Anti-Doping Penalties for Elite Athletes
Elite Athlete Contracts Revised to Include
Suspension of Payment and Repayment of
Prize Money for Athletes Found in
Violation of Anti-Doping Code
TOKYO ÛÓ World
Marathon Majors (WMM) members Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York have collectively revised their
elite athlete contracts to include stricter anti-doping penalties. New
provisions will include the right for the events to suspend payment and to
demand repayment of prize money, appearances fees, and performance bonuses for
any athlete found in violation of a criminal offense involving drugs, anti-doping
rules, or if for any other reason the athlete’s result has been nullified
by a relevant governing body.
These
new penalties are part of WMM’s continuing effort to be a leader in the
anti-doping movement, having gone above and beyond standard drug testing at its
events. WMM has supported increasing the number and frequency of
out-of-competition drug tests in Ethiopia
and Kenya.
The events aim to ensure the integrity of the athletes competing in their
races, with the majority of top male and female competitors hailing from these
two countries. Additionally, WWM has previously agreed that any athlete found
guilty of a doping offence will not be invited back to its races.
“This is a great initiative and a very positive and
strong move by the World Marathon Majors, which is once again leading the field
by example,” said Paula Radcliffe, the current women’s world
record-holder in the marathon and past winner of the London, Chicago and New
York City Marathons. “I would love to see all major events follow its lead.
The cheats need to understand that they are not welcome in our sport and will
be caught and made to pay. This is a step forward in increasing the deterrent
and showing athletes and managers that cheating won’t be tolerated. Having to
pay back all money won while cheating is common sense and a logical element
that has been missing for a long time. It is clear that any monies won while
cheating are tantamount to fraud and should be returned.”
New anti-doping provisions in WMM elite athlete contracts
will include the following:
·
The athlete acknowledges
that his/her right to receive payment is conditional upon remaining fully
compliant with all applicable anti-doping rules
·
If the athlete is foundÛÓbefore,
during or after the term of the agreementÛÓto have committed a criminal
offence involving drugs, or an anti-doping rule violation, or if for any other
reason the athlete’s result in the marathon is later nullified by a
relevant governing body, then the marathon organizer will have the following
rights:
o The right to reduce or
suspend payments due to the athlete, or to terminate the agreement with
immediate effect
o The right to repayment
from athlete of all or part of the money paid to the athlete under the
agreement
About World Marathon
Majors
Established
in 2006, World Marathon Majors (WMM) is a race series comprised of the Tokyo, Boston,
Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, and ING New York City Marathons.
In the years in which they are run, WMM also includes the IAAF World Championships
and Olympic Marathons. At the conclusion of a two-year cycle, WMM offers a $1
million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female
marathoners in the world. The inaugural 2006 ÛÓ 2007 series launched at
the 110th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2006 and concluded at the ING
New York City Marathon on November 4, 2007. The 2013 ÛÓ 2014 series begins
with the Tokyo Marathon on February 24, 2013 and will conclude at the ING New
York City Marathon on November 2, 2014.