AIU AND ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS ANNOUNCE NEW INTELLIGENCE AND TESTING PROGRAM IN GROUNDBREAKING ANTI-DOPING INITIATIVE

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) today revealed a groundbreaking extensive new anti-doping investigation and intelligence-driven testing program in a landmark moment in the drive for a clean sport.

Since it was founded in 2017, the AIU has worked closely with the AbbottWMM organization, which comprises six of the most prestigious marathons in the world: Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.

With the integrity of marathon running at the forefront of their work, the AbbottWMM, which was formed in 2006, began working with the former IAAF Medical and Anti-Doping Department in 2013, and the AIU has continued the operations since their inception in 2017. Additional funding is now being invested by the AbbottWMM to support this cutting edge program based on intelligence and testing.

During 2018, the AIU conducted extensive analysis of the risks to the integrity of athletics and road running and consequently devised the program which puts a higher focus on the best elite athletes, utilizing intelligence to ensure that the right athletes are tested at the right time.

Tim Hadzima, Executive Director of AbbottWMM, said: "The Abbott World Marathon Majors is proud of its zero-tolerance policy on doping and its proactive work investing in and supporting anti-doping programs. We are constantly reviewing the program with the AIU and the future clearly requires a strong focus on intelligence and investigative capability. We are working with the experts in the AIU to set the pace for road racing."

David Howman, Chairman of the AIU, said: "The AbbottWMM races have shown they are not interested in a 'tick the box' approach to anti-doping or playing the numbers game of more and more tests. They are deeply invested in catching cheaters, identifying the risk to their races, understanding the root causes of doping and doing something about it."

"By supporting the enhanced programme, the AbbottWMM has underlined their commitment for clean sport and set an example for the industry. This program is world-leading and will ensure the AbbottWMM races are among the very best regulated sporting events in the world when it comes to anti-doping," added Howman.

In accordance with the AIU's recommendation, the program continues to involve a testing pool of 150 elite runners, with a shift to an emphasis on intelligence led testing.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Athletics Integrity Unit:
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body that manages all integrity issues - both doping and non-doping - for the sport of athletics. The remit of the AIU includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting other misconduct including bribery and breaches of betting rules.

It is the AIU's role to drive cheats out of our sport, and to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work.

About Abbott World Marathon Majors:
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world - Tokyo Marathon, B.A.A. Boston Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.

Encompassing an annual series for elite runners and elite wheelchair athletes, AbbottWMM also applauds the achievements and passion of everyday champions from around the world. The new AbbottWMM Six Star System is an online results hub that celebrates every runner who has completed from one to six of the races in the series and encourages them to 'Reach For The Stars'.

The AbbottWMM has also launched AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings - our first ever global age group marathon ranking system. Qualifying began in Berlin in September 2018 and will include more than 50 races across the world over a 12-month period. The rankings will culminate at the first AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championship race taking place in spring 2020.

For more information,visit www.Abbottwmm.com

Click here to see the AbbottWMM news page.