Recently, some of the most renowned ultras in the world, UTMB and Western States 100, have implemented new drug testing regimes, in a renewed committment to preserving integrity in ultrarunning. But what is the prevalence of drug usage among ultrarunners, and what, exactly, are these runners using? A study recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise explores what banned substances long-distance runners are putting into their bodies, and how prevalent doping is in the sport.
The study
Researchers introduced an anonymous urine sampling method, aiming to provide more accurate measurements of drug use compared to traditional questionnaires, and collected urine samples and demographic data from 412 male participants using automated urinals at the start of races. In parallel, 2,931 male and female runners participating in the same races filled out a randomized-response, anonymous questionnaire about their drug use.
What are runners taking?
Out of 412 urine samples, nearly half (49.8 per cent) contained at least one substance. Among these, 16.3 per cent tested positive for prohibited substances. The substances detected included: nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, prohibited at UTMB, 22.1 per cent), acetaminophen (15.5 per cent), opioids (6.6 per cent), diuretics (4.9 per cent), hypnotics (4.4 per cent), glucocorticoids (2.7 per cent), beta-2 agonists (2.2 per cent), cannabinoids (1.9 per cent), and stimulants (1.2 per cent).
The drug use didn’t correlate with the participant’s ranking in their race, and no samples contained suspicious testosterone. In contrast, the runners who answered the questionnaire reported the use of both acetaminophen (13.6 per cent) and NSAIDs (12.9 per cent), but did not declare any banned substances.
Limited use of PEDs, high use of NSAIDs
Researchers concluded that there is a significant prevalence of drug use, particularly concerning NSAIDs and painkillers, among male ultrarunners. However, the use of performance-enhancing drugs appears to be marginal. The blind urine sampling method proved to be a valuable tool in detecting prohibited drug use that might not be reported in questionnaires, providing a more accurate assessment of drug use and doping in competitive sports.
This research has important implications for how drug use is monitored and managed in sports, suggesting that more rigorous and anonymous testing methods may be necessary to obtain truthful data.
