Eight year doping ban for Age-Group athlete Kevin Moats

Kona test results in second doping positive for Kevin Moats

Formal news today (which was effectively revealed earlier this week, after he contacted the Slowtwitch website), that U.S. Age-Group athlete, Kevin Moats, tested positive for exogenous testosterone in a pre-competition drug test at the IRONMAN World Championship in October. The second time he has tested positive (first one in 2012) – for the same thing – his ban is eight years, effective 12th January 2018.

In 2017 Moats finished third in the 60-64 division. A multiple Age-Group World Champion in previous years, it’s ironic that in this 2007 feature, Moats was quoted as saying. “When you interview me in another 10 years, maybe it’ll be different. But for now, I’m there to race it. I’m not out there to say I finished an Ironman.”

Well, I doubt you’ll ever be finishing another one Kevin…

INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR UPHOLDS SANCTION ON IRONMAN AGE-GROUP ATHLETE KEVIN MOATS FOR ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATION

Today, the IRONMAN® Anti-Doping Program announced that American Age Group athlete Kevin Moats tested positive for a prohibited substance and has received an eight-year suspension. Mr. Moat’s positive sample was collected out-of-competition on October 12, 2017, during IRONMAN’s pre-competition testing at the 2017 IRONMAN® World Championship.

Moat’s sample tested positive for the presence of exogenous testosterone and its metabolite, which was confirmed by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) analysis. The use of any exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroid, including testosterone, is prohibited at all times under IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. Mr. Moats did not apply for or have a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.

All results-management proceedings and sanctions applied under the jurisdiction of the IRONMAN Anti- Doping Program are determined in accordance with the WADA Code and the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules. This is Moat’s second anti-doping rule violation under the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules. His first Anti-Doping Rule Violation was also for his use of testosterone, for which he received a one-year period of ineligibility by decision of a hearing panel of the American Arbitration Association consistent with the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules in effect at that time (Link). Athletes who commit a second anti-doping rule violation are subject to a period of ineligibility twice what would otherwise be applicable. Thus, the period of ineligibility for this anti-doping rule violation is eight years.

Mr. Moats advised IRONMNAN he would neither formally accept this sanction nor appeal IRONMAN’s decision. As a result, his period of ineligibility went into effect January 12, 2018 and he is ineligible to participate in any IRONMAN-affiliated competition or any events organized by any other WADA Code Signatory for a period of eight years. In addition, all of his IRONMAN competitive results subsequent to October 12 have been disqualified.

“Athletes must take responsibility for compliance with the Anti-Doping Rules,” said Kate Mittelstadt, Director of the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Program. “There is no excuse for athletes who choose to knowingly and intentionally compete while using prohibited substances. Athletes must work with their physicians and Anti-Doping Agencies to identify allowed alternatives or treatments that qualify under WADA’s International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions.”

To learn more about the IRONMAN Anti-Doping program, visit www.ironman.com/triathlon/organizations/anti-doping.aspx.