Triathlon: Carter may still claim title

Hamish Carter may yet be awarded the world triathlon title after this year's winner, Tim Don from Britain, failed to comply with strict drug-testing procedures.

Carter finished second behind Don in Lausanne last month in what was the New Zealander's last championship event.

Should Don be stripped of his gold medal, New Zealand would also have a second medallist because Kris Gemmell finished fourth behind Don, Carter and Frenchman Frederic Belaubre.

Carter is not leading any charge to have the results overturned but admits to suspicions over the timing of a three-month ban on Don.

After missing three out-of-competition drugs tests in an 18-month period, Don copped the ban from the British Triathlon Association and the Independent Disciplinary Tribunal in England.

That, says Carter, is hardly a ban at all because the season is all but over and effectively comes in what is Don's off-season.

Don has accepted the ruling and won't appeal.

The timing of the missed tests is the key to any further action.

Under the rules of the International Triathlon Union, a third missed test in an 18-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation.

If the third of Don's missed tests came before the September 2 world championships, Carter questions whether Don should have been allowed to start.

"It appears he missed the three tests before the worlds," said Carter. "I know he was tested at the world championships as we were in the same room together after the race for testing.

"If that was the case, you would have to wonder why the ban has only come into effect now."

Carter was adamant that missing three tests is a far cry from returning a positive but added the rules were there to protect everyone.

"I feel that the sport [in Britain] or someone has protected Tim until after the world championships. Guys can bend the rules," said Carter.

"I have spoken to a few guys around the world and no one says it is fair. Everyone agrees if we are going to have rules they should be adhered to.

"Sport has to portray an image of being 100 per cent squeaky-clean. Is there any tolerance? I, and other athletes, don't want any tolerance.

"I have been stopped in the street, had a knock on my door at home and been tracked down overseas for testing. I have never missed a test. We all want to catch the cheats.

"I am not saying Tim is in that category but in all cases like this there is still a taint. It appears that in this case I was beaten by a guy who might not have deserved to be on the start line," said Carter. "That is the issue."

Triathlon New Zealand high-performance manager Stephen Farrell said his association was treading carefully before making any decision on its course of action.

"In our sport, appeals generally have to be lodged within 30 minutes of a decision [during a race] being made," said Farrell. "The appeal is heard and dealt with there and then. This is a different case and one we have to consider carefully.

"The most crucial aspect as I see it is one of timing. We need to know whether that third [missed] test was before or after the world championships. If it was after the world championships, it is not an issue. If it was before, then we will look at it."

Farrell said the first stop now would be in contacting the ITU.

"As far as I know there is no process in place to deal with this. We will check it out and take it from there. This is an association issue, not one that Hamish will pursue.

"We will be taking advice from the ITU, the World Anti-Doping Agency and Drug Free Sport New Zealand before making any move."

DFSNZ boss Graeme Steel said despite Don's acceptance of the ban, there was still an obligation for athletes to know and understand the rules and abide by them.

"If a New Zealand athlete missed a third test there is a legal issue to be considered," said Steel. "We would notify the sport and the athlete immediately and concurrently asking for an explanation.

"It would be up to the sport to take action but in some sports they would suspend the athlete immediately."

Steel said he did not know how the ITU would handle a case such as this or whether the results would be amended.

Depending on action taken by the respective triathlon organisations, the matter could end up at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.