Posted: October 26, 2007

Athletics: PRRO Circuit Takes Tough New Anti-Doping Stance

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com The independent organizers of the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit have adopted a toughened anti-doping stance. Under the new policy the five PRRO Circuit events --which include the World's Best 10-K in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, D.C.; the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Wash.; the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga.; and the Utica Boilermaker 15-K in Utica, N.Y.-- will no longer invite any athletes who have returned to competition after serving a doping suspension of at least two years. This new new measure comes after two years of mandatory drug testing at all PRRO events which has been paid carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and paid for by the individual events. "This new policy underscores how seriously we take our commitment to a drug-free sport," said Don Kardong, PRRO president and the race director of the Lilac Bloomsday Run in a written statement. "Simply being eligible to compete again after serving a drug suspension doesn't mean an athlete has earned the courtesy of an invitation to compete again, at least not at any PRRO Circuit event." Kardong emphasized that athletes deemed eligible by the IAAF after their suspension is served may enter PRRO events through the normal registration process, but without travel, lodging, and other hospitality arrangements that are normally extended to top road racers. PRRO joins the five events of the World Marathon Majors which already have a similar policy in place. The next PRRO Circuit event is the World's Best 10-K, scheduled for Feb. 24, 2008. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest