“Putting integrity and athlete health first” – how the UTMB World Series is shaping its anti-doping framework
UTMB® World Series has placed athlete health and sporting fairness at the heart of its mission since the inaugural edition of HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc in 2003.
Since 2023, the circuit has implemented a comprehensive anti-doping policy to support the sport’s professionalisation, protect its long-term integrity and ensure athlete safety.
With clear guidelines, independent expertise and an ambitious prevention strategy, the circuit is building a collective, transparent and sustainable approach centred on safeguarding, independent testing and education — for both elite and amateur runners.
“Anti-doping efforts only progress when athletes, teams, organisers and specialised agencies all play their part. As an international circuit, our responsibility is to anticipate the evolution of trail running and remain fully aligned with global standards, ensuring the discipline develops sustainably and responsibly — for the good of the sport and the health of the athletes.”
Julien Chorier, Sports Director, UTMB World Series
A structured, independent system built on a clear framework aligned with international standards
To ensure a robust, globally compliant framework, the circuit collaborates with expert bodies including the International Testing Agency (ITA). Additional partners, such as the Pro Trail Running Association (PTRA), support the anti-doping programme, particularly through their involvement in online educational sessions.
"Our priority is to remain fully aligned with the World Anti-Doping Code. We work closely with the ITA and World Athletics to strengthen international consistency and clarify grey areas. Awareness is a major challenge: many athletes do not fully understand the rules, which can lead to errors or unnecessary risks. This is why we have developed a strong prevention strategy, with webinars and resources accessible to everyone. Our goal is to protect athletes, clarify the guidelines and support the evolution of trail running in a fair, responsible and sustainable way.” - Julien Chorier, Sports Director, UTMB World Series
“Embedding a long-term, sustainable clean sport culture in trail running starts with high-quality anti-doping education. This means delivering regular, targeted learning opportunities — from recurring webinars and structured onboarding modules to strong peer-to-peer exchange and accessible, multilingual materials. By equipping athletes and their support personnel with reliable knowledge and practical guidance, we help ensure that clean sport values are understood, applied and carried forward across the discipline.” - Lisa Renée GETZ, Senior Education Officer Team Lead at ITA
Key initiatives include:
Independent, systematic testing since 2023: All testing is carried out by the ITA, an independent organisation with recognised expertise in anti-doping. Testing is mandatory for podium finishers and supplemented by random tests throughout the circuit to ensure fairness and safety for all runners.
A comprehensive anti-doping regulation adopted in 2023: The “UTMB World Series Anti-doping Rules”, developed with the ITA, comply fully with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. They outline the scope, athlete and team responsibilities, sanctions and penalties, the full list of prohibited substances and methods, testing procedures, and medical exemptions.
A strengthened dedicated budget in 2024: UTMB World Series commits €100,000 to anti-doping — an increase of nearly 43% compared with previous years.
Health and prevention at the heart of the programme
UTMB World Series views doping not only as a matter of sporting performance and integrity, but also as a public health concern. Elite and amateur runners are exposed to the same physiological demands, and some substances that are legal in competition may still pose risks in extreme conditions.
To address this, the circuit has been developing** a comprehensive educational programme** for several years, in partnership with the ITA:
**Free online webinars for elites and professionals since 2023: **
- Two sessions delivered to nearly 1,400 elite athletes and managers, covering anti-doping rules, testing procedures, supplement and medication risks, and best practices.
- One dedicated session for race directors and operational staff to ensure consistency and safety at event level.
- NEW on 3 December 2025: an open-access webinar organised by UTMB World Series for all runners on the circuit, covering anti-doping rules and health considerations specific to trail running.
Prevention advice and educational guides: freely available to all runners, developed by the medical commission of Les Amis de l’UTMB Mont-Blanc
“Anti-doping is essential in trail running to ensure the integrity of our sport. We all run under the same rules. This webinar aims to keep trail runners informed about the latest developments in anti-doping.”
Clémentine Geoffray, French elite athlete (UTMB Index 797)
A collaborative and evolving policy
The circuit’s anti-doping policy continues to evolve. UTMB World Series works closely with public institutions, national federations and international bodies such as World Athletics to harmonise practices, anticipate risks and respond to the challenges of a rapidly professionalising sport. The aim is not to replicate existing systems, but to adapt the most effective approaches to the specific realities of trail running — strengthening protection for all.
“A clean sport starts with educating athletes, coaches and agents about what to expect throughout the anti-doping process, increasing participation and reducing anxiety around testing. Through our work with Mammoth Trailfest and the PTRA, we continue advocating for better global coordination of resources to protect the integrity of our sport.” Tim Tollefson, US elite athlete (UTMB Index 815), founder and organiser of Mammoth Trailfest
