51-Year-Old Recreational Masters Runner Tests Positive For Doctor Prescribed DHEA, Gets 1-Year Drug Ban

Maybe it is a different Kristi Anderson but this mountain runner was only 42 in 2012....

Megan Kimmel, 32, took second in 3:32:06 for her third podium finish this year. Kimmel was runner up at the USA Half Marathon Trail Championships in June and claimed the national title at the 10K distance in August (Continenta Divide Trail Race). US Mountain Team members Michele Suszek and Melody Fairchild took third and fourth, and Kristi Anderson, 42, won the women’s Masters title.

2nd Moab Trail Marathon: USA Trail Marathon National Championships

Moab, UT, Saturday, November 3, 2012

I'm a 50 + masters female. I have competed against Kristi before in some fairly competitive events, such as the Boulder Half Marathon and the Fast and Flurious XC race. Personally, Kristi's "drug" use did not hurt me or anyone else. If she gained an edge, it was from maybe 43rd place to 41st. Perhaps she came in 4th instead of 5th in her age group. It's been years since either of us have run a sub six minute mile.

None of us know her medical history or why she takes DHEA. USADA accepted her medical excuse, so that is a non issue. They penalized her for not filing the TUE waiver. It's procedural. For that, this is a huge over reaction. It's one thing for them to negotiate a penalty, it's another to issue a press release. That went too far.

I tried responding earlier but it didn't post and haven't been near a computer all day but I do want to respond.

I actually disagree with what I wrote maybe 40% of the time. It's something I go back and forth with but I think there's a real difference between an older runner who is taking something because it legitimately treats some failing that comes with age for which enhanced performance is an additional benefit and someone taking a drug that does not correct any real medical condition but does improve performance. I don't think a 70 year old should have to forsake a drug that might make it possible to throw baseballs to his grandson or play tennis with his pals to be able to run races. But I know that's debatable. I debate it with myself all the time. By the way, this is hypothetical for me. I almost never go to doctors, take no medicines and have no grandkids.

But let's look at this case. Her problem, if I read correctly and please correct me if I didn't, is not that she took a drug that she could never have taken and competed legally but that she took a drug that she could have taken legally if she'd gotten a TUE but not if she hadn't gotten the TUE.

I don't get that. If I've lost to her because she took DHEA or anything else really, I've lost to her. Whether or not she had a note from a doctor really wouldn't matter to me. So on the one hand I can see the reason for banning her. On the other, I just don't think the stakes are high enough to warrant a suspension but I would never think that a runner who failed a drug test should get to keep a prize,

Rekrunner, thanks for that information.

ML wrote:

Maybe it is a different Kristi Anderson but this mountain runner was only 42 in 2012....

Megan Kimmel, 32, took second in 3:32:06 for her third podium finish this year. Kimmel was runner up at the USA Half Marathon Trail Championships in June and claimed the national title at the 10K distance in August (Continenta Divide Trail Race). US Mountain Team members Michele Suszek and Melody Fairchild took third and fourth, and Kristi Anderson, 42, won the women’s Masters title.

2nd Moab Trail Marathon: USA Trail Marathon National Championships

Moab, UT, Saturday, November 3, 2012

Same one, wrong age.

She's no slouch and a competitive runner (as she herself states on her website) and with her experience and qualifications (Bachelors Degree in Biology, Masters Degree in Physical Therapy) would have known it was a doubtful substance. People should stop making excuses for her, regardless of whether they think it matters or not.

She's 49 yo according to the results (there were no 40-44 female entrants):

FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49

1 ANDERSON , KRISTI 49 NIWOT CO 8213045432 4:08

Kristi Anderson, MPT, Harmony Physical Therapy, 7105 LaVista Place, Suite 150, Niwot, CO 80503

homework wrote:

xenonscreams wrote:

I stand corrected since DHEA is prohibited OOC. I agree it's a waste of USADA's resources though.

You stand corrected again, the race paid. Read the whole thread.

Someone already corrected me on this. Read the whole thread.

The Pikes Peak Marathon is not just a local 5k charity run. It is the 3rd oldest marathons in the US, has attracted top level international athletes, has been part of the International Skyrunner series, and I believe has conducted drug testing in prior years.

If you are a top mountain/ultra/trail runner, its not low key: its a prestigious event.

I do not have much sympathy for her excuses

Maybe she did not read the entry form, but that is not a valid excuse.

The 2014 entry form clearly stated that top runners may be tested.

Maybe she did not think she would be a top finisher, but she should have known there was a chance of this since she finished as 14th female overall in the same race in 2013.

Maybe she thinks the trailrunning community is "friendly". As a growing sport attracting many new participants and sponsorship dollars, it is a welcome sign that more trail races are drug testing. Friendly should imply fair and honest, and testing will help. At any level of competitive racing, people will try to gain advantages, and it is good that there are rules in place to keep things fair.

She mistakenly thinks USADA was after her. I think they are just doing their job in a fair and unbiased manner. She may have just happened to show up at this event and tested positive, but she should not have been given preferential treatment.

She says this will have no effect on her future race plans. I hope she reads entry forms in the future. Maybe she will think twice about entering races that drug test. Or better yet maybe she will stop using levels of drugs that might enhance her performance.

Maybe she thinks she needs to take DHEA, Almost every athlete that has tested positive has thought the same thing. She should not downplay the fact that that drug can potentially be used to enhance performance.

Maybe she did not use DHEA to enhance her running performance. Fair enough, but she still tested positive. She should just admit it, say she is sorry, and thank USADA for their diligence.

Perhaps her positive was an innocent mistake. Many people that are caught violating racing rules thought they were doing something wrong that might result in punishment. Did LaShawn Merritt intend to be suspended for using ExtenZe? Did Rosie Ruiz intend to cross the Boston finish line as the first female?

Lines need to be drawn, and those that cross the line (intentionally or not) need to accept the consequences.

Her attitude and comment that USADA is wasting its time and resources on her lessens the thoroughness of USADA.

Presuming USADA was paid a fair price to come to this (or any) event to conduct drug testing, wouldn't we want many more events, at any level, to contract with USADA to conduct drug testing? Wouldn't it be good if USADA was paid to show up at every local 5k and test? If USADA is run like a business, this would increase their income and give them even more resources to properly test more athletes, at all competitive levels.

It would help ensure that running was a cleaner sport at all levels.

If I was a 50+ year old woman in CO and competitive I would question this woman's results until she has proven that she can pass drug tests.

the stuff doesn't actually do anything. caffeine, a modest analgesic and stimulant, is infinitely more powerful. it too was on the banned list at one time and is currently on the watch list.

the athletes being caught are those that are unaware or uninformed, and almost always completely immaterial to top-tier sport. doping at the elite level is still rampant, and all but undetectable. it's a complete farce.

masters athletes getting their panties in a wad are an embarassment.

As a guy, I seldom discuss menopause with women, but within my very limited circle of menopausal women that I have discussed it with (Four out of four women, two of whom are runners), 100% took over the counter DHEA and a prescription HRT that included testosterone.

The reason is that this combination, in their opinion, provided substantial health benefits not available from Premarin or similar HRT drugs that don't include testosterone.

My wife, a nurse, said DHEA helps eliminate hot flashes, mood swings, reduced energy, weight gain, chronic depression, reduced libido, and some other lady parts issues I can't go into here.

In short, these women speak very highly of the health benefits of DHEA.

On a different subject, I'm stunned that the USADA would waste money testing female masters runners in any trail run, but especially the Pikes Peak Marathon. It's brutally tough, but it's more of an adventure run than a traditional marathon. What's next, USADA, testing at mud runs?

This is silly. The mechanism by which a normal person who does not consider himself or herself to be a professional runner would learn of the procedures by which to declare drugs for medical use is nonexistent. This has all the merit of getting busting a 24-year-old male who played soccer in college, kept himself fit but was never into competitive racing, ran a Turkey Trot with his family for fun, won the 5K in 15:25, much to his surprise got asked to pee in a cup, and then got busted for using Flonase for allergies. Let me repeat: the mechanism by which a normal person who is not a professional athlete can learn of the procedures by which to declare drugs for medical use is nonexistent.

ML wrote:

Maybe it is a different Kristi Anderson but this mountain runner was only 42 in 2012....

Megan Kimmel, 32, took second in 3:32:06 for her third podium finish this year. Kimmel was runner up at the USA Half Marathon Trail Championships in June and claimed the national title at the 10K distance in August (Continenta Divide Trail Race). US Mountain Team members Michele Suszek and Melody Fairchild took third and fourth, and Kristi Anderson, 42, won the women’s Masters title.

2nd Moab Trail Marathon: USA Trail Marathon National Championships

Moab, UT, Saturday, November 3, 2012

The results of that race on the USATF.org site show Kristi Anderson's age as 49 and it is probably the same woman. There was drug testing at that event as well.

fisky wrote:

On a different subject, I'm stunned that the USADA would waste money testing female masters runners in any trail run, but especially the Pikes Peak Marathon. It's brutally tough, but it's more of an adventure run than a traditional marathon. What's next, USADA, testing at mud runs?

As has been pointed out in a number of posts, the race organizers requested testing and very likely paid for it.

I'm astonished at the number of old people on this thread who are treating this like Ben Johnson part deaux.

Attention middle-aged and old people: you are old and no one cares. At this age take whatever you can to benefit your health. If you are 60-yrs-old and have a problem with this then you need your head examined.

Randy Oldman wrote:

That's probably a question for USADA.

Synthoid isn't a banned substance so i'm considered clean. My point was that it's a slippery slope when it comes to any supplementation as a masters runner.

HaileUnlikely wrote:

This is silly. The mechanism by which a normal person who does not consider himself or herself to be a professional runner would learn of the procedures by which to declare drugs for medical use is nonexistent. This has all the merit of getting busting a 24-year-old male who played soccer in college, kept himself fit but was never into competitive racing, ran a Turkey Trot with his family for fun, won the 5K in 15:25, much to his surprise got asked to pee in a cup, and then got busted for using Flonase for allergies. Let me repeat: the mechanism by which a normal person who is not a professional athlete can learn of the procedures by which to declare drugs for medical use is nonexistent.

I don't know much about this woman other than she ran in at least two races....the Moab race in 2012 and the Pikes Peak marathon in 2014 in which drug testing was conducted. This means she, at least twice, signed off that she would be ok being selected randomly or not to provide a sample. She is a has a degree in biology and masters in physical therapy and she didn't question this?

I don't particularly buy the complete cluelessness but she seems pretty oblivious at the very least.

rolling my eyes ^2 wrote:

I'm astonished at the number of old people on this thread who are treating this like Ben Johnson part deaux.

Attention middle-aged and old people: you are old and no one cares. At this age take whatever you can to benefit your health. If you are 60-yrs-old and have a problem with this then you need your head examined.

I absolutely agree but don't whine about it when you come up positive and have looney masters runners write articles about your plight.

rolling my eyes ^2 wrote:

Attention middle-aged and old people: you are old and no one cares. .

How is it different if a 24 year old cheats or a 50 year old cheats? They are both cheating.

From my point of view, I could not care less if an elite cheats because it does not affect me at all. It does concern me if a 50 year old cheats and finishes ahead of me in a race because of it.

In other words, there ARE people that do care regardless of the age of those that cheat.

She sounds like she is full of sh^t. I would be surprised too since trail running is notoriously devoid of testing."Adrenal fatigue" is not a proven medical condition. A real doctor would not prescribe DHEA for a condition that has no scientific basis. Frankly, from her comments it sounds more like she was aware the substance is banned but she thought she was a masters runner who just "loves the mountains" and probably wouldn't be tested.She is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to masters and trail runners.

xenonscreams wrote:

homework wrote:

You stand corrected again, the race paid. Read the whole thread.

Someone already corrected me on this. Read the whole thread.

I did/have, I know Steve corrected you, but you seem so dense and a serial misinformer that you needed correcting again, which is why I said "You stand corrected again".

I'm remain unconvinced. Despite her website, biology degree, and her physiotherapy background (all very compelling arguments to be sure), this is a "recreational" lady not really expecting to place in any masters standings with any depth. She is an "open" non-USATF runner not expecting to be subject to the obligations of professional athletes.Look at the results:http://www.skyrunner.com/ppresults/2014ppm_f.htmAided by the banned substance DHEA, Kristi Anderson still finished some 40 minutes behind the 50 year old Anita Ortiz. This is not the result of a competitive masters athlete, despite her self declaration that she enjoys competitive running.At Pikes Peak, the real competitors were in the "Ascent":http://www.skyrunner.com/ppresults/2014ppa_f.htm

Who's she trying to kid? wrote:

rekrunner wrote:

I think your (and other's) outrage is misplaced.

This looks like a recreational lady who loves to run in the mountains.

But maybe my assumption is wrong.

It is, on her website she describes herself as enjoying "competitive running" and with her knowledge as mention above regarding occupation, education, etc, she would have known it was giving her competitive edge, disingenuous for her to indicate otherwise.