Running News Daily

Detroit Free Press Marathon introduces new anti-doping policy for 2023

On Dec. 29, one of the most popular U.S. destination races for Canadian marathoners, the Detroit Free Press Marathon, announced a new anti-doping policy to prevent substance abuse among participants to level the playing field. In October, the race received some slack online after Mary (Akor) Beasley won the marathon, seven years after she served a two-year doping ban under her previous name, Mary Akor.

Akor frequently runs marathons across North America that do not test podium finishers that offer a large amount of prize money. In October, she took home USD $6,000 as the top female finisher in Detriot. Although Akor came out and explained her positive test in a Detroit Free Press article, the race received comments on social media about testing podium finishers and not allowing elites who have previously received a doping sanction to compete.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is implementing a new anti-doping policy as it opens registration for the 2023 marathon in October. “The change is made to establish structure and to prevent substance abuse among participants at our annual race,” said Aaron Velthoven, vice president of the marathon. “This new policy will help our organizers uphold the event’s key values.”

“This was a priority for us in our offseason—to ensure fairness and integrity at the top of our race,” Velthoven said to the Detroit Free Press.

Winners will have to meet several requirements to be eligible for the prize money under the new policy:

Not currently serving a suspension for use of a prohibited substance by the USADA or WADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and World Anti-Doping Agency).

Not have ever been suspended for use of a prohibited substance by the USADA or WADA.

Not be represented by a coach who has had two or more athletes that have received such suspensions in the previous four years (from the date of the current race) by USADA or WADA.

Consent to random drug testing according to the standards and procedures of USATF, USADA, and WADA.

All elite and open registrants will be asked to acknowledge and agree to the new policy during registration. 

“We felt that there were too many questions for some previous prize winners with our large-scale race, and we needed a proper anti-doping policy in place to deter the wrong type of athlete from coming to our race,” said Velthoven. The new policy means Akor will not be welcome at the 2023 marathon.

Velthoven expects an increase in participants for the 2023 marathon as the event plans to ease the COVID-19 restrictions. The 46th annual Free Press Marathon will take place on Oct. 15, 2023.