Races such as those in the Enduro World Series demand a great deal from the participants. Speed, stamina and concentration are required in equal measure, and the total duration is between six and eight hours. The fact that some athletes in this sport do not play fair and use medical aids is not very far-fetched. Especially not when doping controls are still in short supply in enduro racing.

At the third race of the Enduro World Series in Olargues, France, on May 13, 2018, the French anti-doping agency AFDL came onto the scene. A total of nine athletes were tested, and rumors later circulated that at least two of them had tested positive. Prominent names were circulating, prompted by pictures on the online magazine Pinkbike showing the riders who were asked to take a urine sample in Olargues.

Probably in order not to fuel the rumors any further, the two overall World Series winners Jared Graves and Richie Rude have now also admitted to Pinkbike that they tested positive for the substances higenamine and oxilofrine. However, the official announcement by the AFDL is still pending.
The two have decided not to open the B sample, which means that they accept the test result. But they affirm that they ingested the substances accidentally, i.e. unknowingly.

The banned substances

Higenamine is used to treat asthma and is also part of the beta2 agonist class of drugs. Like all beta2 substances, it is banned by the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) both in training and in competition. It relaxes the muscles that control the airways and allows the lungs to absorb more oxygen, which is equivalent to an increase in performance. Higenamine is also used as a fat burner in dietary supplements.

Oxilofrine is a stimulant and amphetamine known to improve focus and attention. It can shorten reaction time by stimulating the body to produce more adrenaline. This has the added benefit of boosting endurance, increasing blood oxygenation and burning fat. This substance is prohibited during competition.

Both are "specified substances", a sub-category of banned substances that are not necessarily less effective, but leave open the possibility of a reduced penalty through a plausible explanation. WADA says specified substances were introduced to "recognize that it is possible for a substance to accidentally enter an athlete's body" and therefore gives a court more flexibility in making a sanctioning decision.

"Unknowingly" - a classic

The excuse that it was an accidental ingestion is an old classic: starting with Dieter Baumann's toothpaste affair and repeated again by other athletes who have been caught out.

As practically all organizers of the Enduro World Series races pay their calendar fees to the respective national federations, the UCI regulations also apply. In addition, by purchasing a racing license, the riders commit to clean sport, and this also applies to enduro racing. Furthermore, they may be checked at any time.

There is therefore hardly any such thing as "accidentally". Regardless of which nutritional supplement or cough tablet an athlete takes, it is their own responsibility to check that it is a clean product. Contamination is rather rare and if it is, it must be possible to prove it. However, this is also unlikely to be easy.

Open judgment

It is unlikely to be long before the verdict is announced. The sentence will be recommended by the AFDL and WADA and implemented by the federations. It is suspected that the Enduro World Series organization could come to its own interpretation and the exclusion from the series could be longer than required.

A ban would be less serious for Jared Graves, as he will not be competing in any races next year. The Australian was diagnosed with cancer late this summer and has been undergoing treatment ever since. For Richie Rude, on the other hand, the consequences are likely to be far greater. The two-time overall World Series winner also wants to compete in the title race in 2019.

More doping tests in 2019

In 2019, the Enduro World Series will be officially affiliated to the UCI. And this is exactly where this merger should help. The series hopes that there will automatically be more checks by the UCI, which should also please most of the riders who have been demanding regular checks for years.

Did Jared Graves and Richie Rude really unknowingly dope? Only they know the real answer - unfortunately. Photo ©Duncan Philpott / Enduro World Series