This year I experienced drug testing within sport for the first time. As a coach, I want to share my experience with all of you as I learned some valuable lessons throughout the process.
Quick background story. On August 11th 2018 I competed at Age Group Nationals in Cleveland. I knew going into the race that I was highly stressed since my husband and I had spent the final weeks leading up to this race packing up our home, selling my car, putting our house on the market, saying goodbyes to friends and co-workers, and doing everything else that goes along with moving out of state. I also knew that Ohio was going to be hot and humid, and that I needed to manage my race appropriately. Once I got to Cleveland, my stress decreased noticeably, and I was excited to race. I had high hopes to make the podium, but my goal was to race with joy and confidence above all else. I did just this, and came off of the bike in 2nd place. My husband enthusiastically pointed out the leader of my AG, about 15 feet in front of me. From that point on, I decided to really race. I still made a point to hydrate properly, and conserve my effort as much as possible. I could hear myself breathing hard, and I was fighting off some stomach and leg cramping, but I was mostly focused on sticking with my competitor. On the 2nd loop of the run, I made a decision of when I was going to try and pick up the pace to create a gap. I did this, and from there things get fuzzy. I remember getting tunnel vision, and feeling myself swerve a bit. I remember seeing the final pedestrian bridge and thinking there was NO way I was going to be able to get myself up and over that. And then I remember waking up in extreme pain in the medical tent with my husband sitting next to me. I don’t remember stumbling down the ramp into the finish chute, crossing the finish line as a national champion, stopping my watch, or being assisted into the medical tent. I don’t remember being given oxygen or my first bag of saline through an IV drip. I don’t remember loudly announcing to my husband that I had won (with slightly more colorful language). I do remember the doctor checking my blood pressure and HR and announcing that I needed a 2nd IV. He told me that if my vitals hadn’t improved after that one was complete, I would be transported to the ER. I remember looking at my husband and deciding that I absolutely would not be visiting a hospital. It was also around that point that I was told that I was going to be drug tested, and that my escort was waiting for me at the exit of the medical tent.
I eventually left the med tent and made my way to the drug testing area. My head felt foggy, and I wasn’t walking a very straight line. The drug testing personnel were friendly and professional, and answered my slightly ridiculous questions that were coming out of my disoriented brain. I was able to provide an acceptable urine sample, and went through the process of answering detailed questions about my recent medical history. One of the last questions was: “have you had any intravenous solutions administered in the last 12 hours?” I initially answered no. Then I looked down at my arm and saw my little band aid on my vein. I interrupted the woman and told her that I had just come from the medical tent where I had received an IV. She said we needed to amend my response to include this information, so we did. She had me review all of the information I had given and signed off on it.
I left feeling good that drug testing was helping to keep our sport clean, and thought nothing of the fact that I had received an IV post-race.
About 2-3 weeks later I received an e-mail from USADA telling me that due to my declaration of receiving an IV within 12 hours of my race, I needed to provide more information. The e-mail was intimidating, and my heart was racing reading it. I knew in my heart I had done nothing wrong, but regardless I felt like I was being attacked a little. Thankfully, after a slightly frantic phone call to Mace, he calmed me down a bit and gave me the name of the USAT staffer I needed to contact first. I started working on collecting the documentation that USADA needed in order to prove that my IV was “medically necessary”. I was on a very short time-line, and had to contact multiple people such as the head doctor from the medical tent, the USAT event coordinators, and a few others who could help steer me in the right direction. I submitted all of the information on time, and waited. A few weeks after that, I received another e-mail stating that I needed to submit a retro-active therapeutic use exemption application. Try saying that three times fast! Again, I contacted a few people at USAT who assured me that I was taking the appropriate steps, and guided me in the right direction in order to get the necessary documentation in a timely manner. I submitted it and waited.
After 4 long weeks, I finally received an e-mail saying that my retro-active TUE application had been approved, and I was officially cleared from any doping charges! When I looked closely at the letter, I saw that the woman who had amended my initial IV statement in the drug tent had incorrectly dated my IV for August 8th instead of the date of race which was August 11th. I am not entirely sure if this is what caused all of the extra documentation requirements, but I am sure it didn’t help my case.
Throughout this process I learned some valuable lessons that I think all athletes competing on a national level should know.
Overall, I am thankful that our sport is emphasizing clean and fair athletic competition for all, and thankful that USAT has the free resources to help athletes navigate this stressful situation. While I wish testing wasn’t necessary, it seems that it is for now and I continue to fully support it!
Quick background story. On August 11th 2018 I competed at Age Group Nationals in Cleveland. I knew going into the race that I was highly stressed since my husband and I had spent the final weeks leading up to this race packing up our home, selling my car, putting our house on the market, saying goodbyes to friends and co-workers, and doing everything else that goes along with moving out of state. I also knew that Ohio was going to be hot and humid, and that I needed to manage my race appropriately. Once I got to Cleveland, my stress decreased noticeably, and I was excited to race. I had high hopes to make the podium, but my goal was to race with joy and confidence above all else. I did just this, and came off of the bike in 2nd place. My husband enthusiastically pointed out the leader of my AG, about 15 feet in front of me. From that point on, I decided to really race. I still made a point to hydrate properly, and conserve my effort as much as possible. I could hear myself breathing hard, and I was fighting off some stomach and leg cramping, but I was mostly focused on sticking with my competitor. On the 2nd loop of the run, I made a decision of when I was going to try and pick up the pace to create a gap. I did this, and from there things get fuzzy. I remember getting tunnel vision, and feeling myself swerve a bit. I remember seeing the final pedestrian bridge and thinking there was NO way I was going to be able to get myself up and over that. And then I remember waking up in extreme pain in the medical tent with my husband sitting next to me. I don’t remember stumbling down the ramp into the finish chute, crossing the finish line as a national champion, stopping my watch, or being assisted into the medical tent. I don’t remember being given oxygen or my first bag of saline through an IV drip. I don’t remember loudly announcing to my husband that I had won (with slightly more colorful language). I do remember the doctor checking my blood pressure and HR and announcing that I needed a 2nd IV. He told me that if my vitals hadn’t improved after that one was complete, I would be transported to the ER. I remember looking at my husband and deciding that I absolutely would not be visiting a hospital. It was also around that point that I was told that I was going to be drug tested, and that my escort was waiting for me at the exit of the medical tent.
I eventually left the med tent and made my way to the drug testing area. My head felt foggy, and I wasn’t walking a very straight line. The drug testing personnel were friendly and professional, and answered my slightly ridiculous questions that were coming out of my disoriented brain. I was able to provide an acceptable urine sample, and went through the process of answering detailed questions about my recent medical history. One of the last questions was: “have you had any intravenous solutions administered in the last 12 hours?” I initially answered no. Then I looked down at my arm and saw my little band aid on my vein. I interrupted the woman and told her that I had just come from the medical tent where I had received an IV. She said we needed to amend my response to include this information, so we did. She had me review all of the information I had given and signed off on it.
I left feeling good that drug testing was helping to keep our sport clean, and thought nothing of the fact that I had received an IV post-race.
About 2-3 weeks later I received an e-mail from USADA telling me that due to my declaration of receiving an IV within 12 hours of my race, I needed to provide more information. The e-mail was intimidating, and my heart was racing reading it. I knew in my heart I had done nothing wrong, but regardless I felt like I was being attacked a little. Thankfully, after a slightly frantic phone call to Mace, he calmed me down a bit and gave me the name of the USAT staffer I needed to contact first. I started working on collecting the documentation that USADA needed in order to prove that my IV was “medically necessary”. I was on a very short time-line, and had to contact multiple people such as the head doctor from the medical tent, the USAT event coordinators, and a few others who could help steer me in the right direction. I submitted all of the information on time, and waited. A few weeks after that, I received another e-mail stating that I needed to submit a retro-active therapeutic use exemption application. Try saying that three times fast! Again, I contacted a few people at USAT who assured me that I was taking the appropriate steps, and guided me in the right direction in order to get the necessary documentation in a timely manner. I submitted it and waited.
After 4 long weeks, I finally received an e-mail saying that my retro-active TUE application had been approved, and I was officially cleared from any doping charges! When I looked closely at the letter, I saw that the woman who had amended my initial IV statement in the drug tent had incorrectly dated my IV for August 8th instead of the date of race which was August 11th. I am not entirely sure if this is what caused all of the extra documentation requirements, but I am sure it didn’t help my case.
Throughout this process I learned some valuable lessons that I think all athletes competing on a national level should know.
- Make sure that the person recording your official statements have written it down correctly. If you are not in a mental space to double check this, you are allowed to have a spouse, coach, or friend help you throughout this process.
- Know EXACTLY what is in your supplements if you take them. Make sure they are approved by USADA.
- Go to the USADA website and do a pre-check. It is a 5 min survey that will tell you if you need to submit any TUE applications or get pre-approval for any medications, etc.
- IV’s are trendy these days to treat hangovers or to get a vitamin “cocktail”. Be aware that it is against USADA rules to use an IV unless medically necessary.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out to USAT staff who can help you make sure that you are following all anti-doping rules.
Overall, I am thankful that our sport is emphasizing clean and fair athletic competition for all, and thankful that USAT has the free resources to help athletes navigate this stressful situation. While I wish testing wasn’t necessary, it seems that it is for now and I continue to fully support it!
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