ITU Revokes Miller’s Weihai Win
According to a statement obtained today from Triathlon Canada the International Triathlon Union (ITU), world governing body for triathlon, revoked Canadian age-group athlete Julie Miller's win at the 2014 Triathlon Long Course World Championship in Weihai, China.
Slowtwitch obtained from Triathlon Canada language from an ITU Arbitration Tribunal, which also states that Ms. Miller is banned from, "all ITU competitions and all competitions sanctioned by National Federations affiliated with ITU, starting from 1 November 2015.” The ITU cited a violation of rule 2.1 of it’s Competition Rules which is entitled General Conduct. This includes a dozen provisions including "good sportsmanship,” “understand and follow the ITU Competition Rules,” and "follow the prescribed course.” The ITU did not specify in its arbitration award which of the 2.1 provisions Ms. Miller violated.
The date of suspension began on November 1, 2015, congruent with the 2-year ban levied by Triathlon Canada.
Also included in the arbitration ruling is a USD $1,000 fine and USD $2,000 payable to the ITU for "procedural costs.”
The ITU originally declined to disqualify Ms. Miller from Weihai because it could not establish for certain that she had cheated. The multi-loop course and significant problems with the timing system made the determination problematic at that time. But DQs at other races, a ban from both Ironman and Triathlon Canada, other methods of proof establishing a probable race narrative in Weihai, Triathlon Canada's request that the ITU act, and perhaps general and mounting pressure to act, caused the ITU to take another, harder look.
This may be the final chapter in an ordeal spanning 2 years, in particular for those who finished below Ms. Miller on the podium at Weihai. The ITU wrote to Slowtwitch, in response to a query, that "This outcome is imminent and will be published soon," however Slowtwitch could find no published statement as of this writing. Ms. Miller is still listed on the ITU website as winner of the women’s 40-44 race in Weihai, with UK athlete Victoria Hill 2nd, Canadian Jen Milton 3rd and Japanese athlete Akiko Kawashima 4th. The ITU has not yet said whether it will officially moves these athletes up a place on the podium.
