Contestants in the and will be subject to drug testing after the event. The United States Anti-Doping Agency will randomly select six of the top ten finishers in the 26.2-mile marathon and four of the top ten finishers in the 13-mile ascent and administer tests. It is the drug testing.
“We have some very famous records for our races, and when these records are broken, like they were last year, we want people to know they’re done legitimately,” Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent president Ron Ilgene told .
Athletes will receive their prize money after the test results have been returned, no later than six weeks after the race. The receive $3,000 and the winners of the ascent win $2,000, though winners may receive higher amounts if they break course records.
“Unfortunately, when more money is involved, the suspicion does arise and people do things to make money,” three-time winner of the Pikes Peak Ascent Simon Gutierrez told . “With the big prize money at Pikes Peak I think most of mountain runners will feel positive about it.”
For more, read “Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent Will Test for Performance-Enhancing Drugs in 2013 Events” in .