Doping is far more common in professional sport than the rates suggested by blood and urine tests of the athletes, scientists have found. Advertisement The study found that at least 30% of athletes in the 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships and 45% of athletes at the Pan-Arab Games in 2011 claimed to have taken doping drugs or used other doping methods. Only a fraction of these cases were detected by biological tests: at the World Championships, 0.5% of biological tests showed positive for doping agents, and 3.6% for the Pan-Arab games. The scientists used a “randomised response method” to question a total of 2,167 participants at…

The first Mixed Relay Cup was today declared a roaring success. With bumper crowds, global podium-mounting athletes and a natural amphitheatre courtesy of Nottingham city centre, British Triathlon’s latest event was 90mins of can’t-tear-your-eyes-away action. Advertisement Seventeen teams took part in the four-teammate tag race, each completing a 300m swim, two-lap 7.5km bike and 1-lap 1.5km run before handing over the honours to the next athlete. With four international teams, it didn’t have the gobal impact of the World Champs, in Hamburg, but the predominantly British line-up showcased the very best of our nations’s talent, drawing teams from the sport’s top training centres across the UK. The two Leeds teams,…

It is with great sadness that the ITU has learned of the death of its Honorary President, Les McDonald. He died on September 4 in Vancouver (Canada), at 84 years of age. McDonald served as ITU’s President from its inception in 1989 until 2008, and he was largely credited with getting the sport of triathlon into the Olympic Summer Games. The grief of his passing is shared by his family, friends, athletes, fans and all the triathlon family, and by ITU staff and Board. Advertisement “Les was not only an extraordinary person, he was part of the triathlon family, and will be always remembered. His impact on the global evolution of…

“Our races show the power of nature and how little we are on this spec of a world. All we can do is take care of each other.” For the 300 athletes sitting in the race briefing ahead of the 12th ÖtillÖ World Championship race in the Stockholm archipelago, these very apt words from race director Michael Lemmel saw a few nervous smiles exchanged. With winds already gusting outside and similar conditions, with heavy rain, predicted for the next day, everyone’s mind was on how the weather conditions would affect the race ahead. Advertisement Now in its twelfth official year, the race ranked by CNN as ‘one of the world’s…

Standing on a small, rocky island it’s no exaggeration to say I’m getting absolutely battered. Strong winds are whipping around me, rain is bouncing off my face and I’m conscious that even with the heavy layers of kit I’m wearing I’m still freezing cold. Advertisement Looking back down at the swim beneath me, I can see athletes struggling against the winds and waves. The swim is only 300m, but the currents are jack-knifing their bodies as they fight to make it to shore and even then, the rain is making the rocks so slippery that hauling themselves out of the water is a challenge. Luckily for me though, I’m watching…

  @danielaryf is your new Icy Hot IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion! Click Here: liverpool mens jersey Advertisement

Javier Gomez is your new Icy Hot IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion! Advertisement Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

From the organisers of the Castle Triathlon Series, the 226km Bastion has swiftly become known as one of the toughest long-course races in the UK. The fifth edition is now open for registration, with early bird prices seeing a 25% discount. Advertisement The event has gained a strong reputation as a nurturing and friendly event, which is documented on Racecheck where it scores 4.7 out of 5.0, with one competitor describing it as “one of life’s defining races.” Further endorsement comes from the loyalty stats of the competitors taking part, in its third year 36% of the competitors were competing for the third time.  The exclusive field of triathletes compete…

Conditions were wet, slippy and cold for the WTS final in Rotterdam, the first time the Dutch city had featured on the WTS  calendar. Advertisement WTS leader Spaniard Mario Mola was the man to beat, and had to finish in the top 5 to defend his 2016 title  – on paper a straightforward task but with difficult conditions, a strong field and a twisty bike course, it was important that he stayed in touch with any breaks that would take place. Click Here: liverpool mens jersey As predicted Richard Varga from Slovakia led the swim, with Britain’s Jonny Brownlee exiting 8 secs down and Mola exiting 26secs down, one of…

With maximum points from five wins reigning world champ Flora Duffy from Bermuda had to finish in the top 7 to defend her title, and looking at her 2017 results it was difficult to see her not achieving this. Advertisement Fresh from her first-ever WTS podium finish in Stockholm Brit Jess Learmonth led the swim from the start with Duffy behind her in second, and Caroline Routier from Spain in third. A strung out field followed Out on the bike USA’s Katie Zaferes, Learmonth and Duffy formed the leading trio and after the first intro lap of 4km had a lead of 33secs. This lead extended to 01:30 by T2…