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.

(12/29/2022) Views: 316 ⚡AMP
by Running Magazine

Runner with former doping ban wins Detroit Free Press Marathon under a new name

After much uncertainty in the lead-up to the race due to ArriveCan guidelines, the Detroit Free Press Marathon welcomed back thousands of runners on Sunday morning. Mary Beasley of Gardena, Calif., won the race in 2:42:25, seven years after she served a two-year doping ban under her previous name, Mary Akor.

For her efforts, Beasley took home a prize of USD $6,000, which also included a bonus for her winning the masters division.

Beasley, born in Nigeria, won the Vancouver Marathon in 2004, 2008 and 2009 and finished second in 2012. In 2013 she tested positive for clenbuterol, a bronchodilator used to open the airway for easier breathing and increase fat burn, at the Gobernador Marathon in Mexico and accepted a two-year ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Former notable athletes 2010 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and world middleweight champion boxer Canelo Alvarez both received bans for using clenbuterol. 

She gained U.S. citizenship in 2004 and represented the United States at the world championships in the marathon in 2005 and 2007. In 2019, at the Austin Marathon, she was also disqualified, under the name Akor, after trying to prevent a runner from passing her.

After winning the 45th annual Free Press Marathon, she said it was a special victory, and it made her feel right at home. Despite winning this marathon in 2008, Beasley did not recall previously visiting the city or winning the marathon.

“I’m very competitive,” she told reporters. “I’ve won a lot of marathons, but this is a major one I’ve won this year.”

Since serving her ban in 2015, Beasley, 45, avoids the major marathons to run smaller races that hand out prize money and do not drug-test the top finishers. Before changing her name earlier this year, she collected prize money at both the Orange County Half-Marathon and the Mexicali Half-Marathon, finishing second in both races.

Many major marathons like TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon prevent runners with a past doping ban from entering the elite field. But there is no rule stating they can’t enter the race in the open field, meaning they would have to start behind the elites, and whether they are eligible for prize money can depend on the race.

(10/18/2022) Views: 487 ⚡AMP
by Marley Dickinson

Canadian government requires ArriveCan app for Detroit marathon runners

If you are planning to run the Detroit Free Press Marathon on Oct. 16, you will have to download the ArriveCan app and follow Canada’s COVID protocols, or you will be forced to abandon the race.

Although the marathon starts and finishes in Detroit, all participants cross the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Ont., to run a small portion of the race along the riverside and then return to Detroit via a tunnel under the Detroit River.

An email was sent out to all participants of the race on Sept. 8, saying, “We have been notified by the Canadian government that ALL international race participants will be required to use ArriveCan as part of their participation at all Detriot Free Press Marathon events.

“This procedure is mandatory to complete to participate in the Detriot Free Press Marathon and failure to do so could result in being prohibited from entering Canada and a DNF.”

Race participants were also warned of another way they could be denied at the border: Canada’s current COVID isolation period.

“Canada has a 10-day isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19, meaning if you test positive for COVID-19 anytime after Oct. 5, you are not allowed to cross into Canada on race day,” the email states.

Runners taking part in the marathon and international half marathon will be required to carry three things during the race–a passport, a digital or paper copy of your proof of vaccination and a digital or paper copy of your ArriveCan receipt (including the eight-digit receipt reference code). Runners may have their hands full.

The Detriot Free Press Marathon has been a fixture on the North American running calendar since the late 1970s. The race is a USATF-certified course and is a popular race destination for many Canadians looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Critics have been calling for the abolition of the app for months, due to the necessity of having to use a digital device, the level of detail required and its possible effect on airport delays.

(09/14/2022) Views: 565 ⚡AMP
by Marley Dickinson

The Detroit Free Press Marathon is going ahead with U.S.-only race

Detroit's cross-border marathon is staying on the U.S. side of the Detroit River this year, organizers say.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon announced that given the "fluidity" of the pandemic and restrictions at the border — and the race being less than three months away — a decision was made to proceed with a Detroit-only route.

"Running internationally is a beloved and unique component of our race, and because of that, we exhausted every opportunity and avenue, hoping that we would continue that tradition this year," the organization said on its website on Thursday.

The marathon, half-marathon and marathon relay take place on Oct. 17. It's only the third time in the race's four-decade history that runners will be competing within Detroit only.

The route usually crosses the Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. 

Last year's event was virtual, amid the pandemic and restrictions on non-essential travel at the border.

The Canadian federal government announced earlier this month that as of Aug. 9., U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be able to enter Canada for non-essential purposes if they're fully vaccinated.

The U.S. has yet to reciprocate to Canadians. The government recently extended the border shutdown until at least Aug. 21.

(07/29/2021) Views: 762 ⚡AMP
by CBC News

The Detroit Free Press Marathon, is joining other large cities in canceling its fall event because of the coronavirus

For the first time since 1978, the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon will not take place in person this year.

Race weekend, which was scheduled for Oct. 16-18, 2020, will not take place downtown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Detroit’s Marathon Weekend is not just any weekend. It’s a celebration of athleticism, perseverance, community and the best Detroit has to offer. In March when our world as we knew it seemed to change, we were hopeful that we would be able to run together in October. As time has gone on, it has become clear to us that this will not be the case. It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing we will not be gathering together at the start line this year,” the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon staff said in a released statement Friday.

“After considerable consultation with public health and safety officials as well as discussions with our staff, volunteers, sponsors and most importantly our participants, we are announcing that the 43rd Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon will be run virtually due to COVID-19.”

Registered participants will have the option to participate in our virtual event, defer your registration to 2021 or 2022 at no cost or get a 50% refund on this year's event. Details of the virtual races will be available in a July 30 e-mail with further instructions.

Until then, registration is closed.

“We are heartbroken and disappointed. However, we are working to create the most engaging and collective virtual experience possible — there are celebrations still to be had this year! If we’ve learned anything from our community, it’s that the only way we persevere is together. So even if it’s virtually from our own start lines, we look forward to commemorating our achievements together, even if we’re apart.

“When we are able to return to the streets of Detroit in 2021, our race will not just be a run. It will be a celebration of our participants, supporters, volunteers and more. And celebrate, we will.”

(07/24/2020) Views: 958 ⚡AMP
by Anthony Fenech

Whitney Black and Steven Phillips crossed the finish line together and they get married during the race

The plan was, as reported earlier, that this couple would start off as boyfriend and girlfriend and be married by the time they finished a marathon Sunday.  The couple, Whitney Black and Steven Phillips started the 41st Detroit Free Press/Chemical Bank Marathon together single. When they crossed the finish line together 4 hours and 47 minutes later, Whitney and Steven Phillips were officially husband and wife. The Grand Rapids-area couple became the first to get married during the Detroit marathon. The annual event has been the setting for several marriage proposals, but never before had anyone tied the knot in the middle of the race. The bride and groom were among the 25,307 people registered for this weekend's lineup of races.  (10/22/2018) Views: 1,458 ⚡AMP

A couple will start the Detroit Free Press Marathon as an engaged couple and finish as a married couple

A Michigan couple plans to pause at the half way mark of the Detroit Free Press Marathon to exchange vows and say their "I do's" before completing the international excursion through Detroit and Windsor on Sunday October 21.  Whitney Black, 31, and Steven Phillips, 33, plan to start as an engaged couple and finish the marathon as a married couple.  The couple has long been overcoming adversity with the help of their running habit, according to spokespeople for the marathon. Black was in a vehicle accident about 14 years ago, requiring 20 surgeries and years of physical therapy after being told she would not be able to walk again.  She then met Phillips, who encouraged her to train for a marathon. During training, she was hit by another vehicle, requiring another surgery. About eight years ago, Phillips weighed 300 pounds and wanted to get his health on track. He chose running. He's since lost 130 pounds and will run his 14th marathon this weekend. Because the two share a passion for running, they decided to forgo a traditional wedding and hold a brief ceremony during the marathon, at what they consider the perfect moment. The two plan to exchange vows in a five to seven-minute ceremony, with the bride donning a visor with a wedding veil and a shirt stating "Something Borrowed Something Blue at Mile 13.1 We'll Say I Do," and the groom sporting a tuxedo shirt.  (10/18/2018) Views: 1,378 ⚡AMP