A conversation with ITU’s Leslie Buchanan
ST: How long have you been with ITU in your role and what did you do before?
Leslie Buchanan: I was a volunteer with Triathlon as a member of our provincial association before ITU was founded, since 1984. I continued to volunteer with ITU, until 1999 when I became a paid staff member.
ST: What exactly are your responsibilities?
Leslie Buchanan: In my role as the ITU Technical Director, I oversee all technical aspects of the sport. I work closely with the other directors, as well as the ITU Technical Committee. In my role as the ITU Anti-Doping Director, I oversee all aspects of the ITU Anti-Doping program, including Testing, Results Management, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and Whereabouts Forms. I also work with our Sport Development Department on Education.
ST: How much of an issue do you think doping is in pro sports all together?
Leslie Buchanan: As the money and fame in sports rise so does the problem with doping. I think that the problem is growing and therefore, we need to be very vigilant in our Education and Testing programs.
By the way, the International Triathlon Union does not consider itself a "pro sport", but rather an Olympic sport, managed and directed by a "not-for-profit" society. We prefer to distinguish ourselves from organizations such as the NHL, NFL, NBA etc., which are run as a "for profit" businesses. We believe the goals are very different as are the doping issues.
ST: What about in triathlon versus other sports?
Leslie Buchanan: Considering the physical demands of our sport, I am proud of triathlon’s record. I can’t speak for other sports but I wish all athletes and coaches would make the right decision.
ST: The most recent case of Hongni Wang (China) comes just before the Olympics are happening in her country. What does that say about China being ready to face this issue?
Leslie Buchanan: The Chinese National Federation is strongly committed to keeping their athletes and our sport clean. They were horrified that this has happened and have pledged to continue to work with their athletes to make the right decision.
ST: What lab did the testing and who was the testing authority?
Leslie Buchanan: I am out of the office today so I am can't give you the specific name of the laboratory but it was the WADA accredited lab in Beijing. ITU was the Testing Authority.
ST: What could be done better to deal with doping in sports?
We need and have strong Education programs to teach the athletes and coaches the health dangers and ethical issues surrounding doping. We need and have to do a lot of testing to prove that our athletes are clean. ITU prides itself in being a clean sport based on the more than 800 tests which have had negative results so far in 2007. We want to make sure that everyone competes on a level playing field. ITU has signed the World Anti-Doping Code and therefore we have responsibilities which we are bound to. ITU and its Anti-Doping Rules are compliant with the Code. When any changes to the Code take effect we work hard with our National Federations to make sure that we remain compliant.
ST: Do you think the cheating technology is ahead of the policing one?
I think that we are closing the gap. With the ability to save samples for long periods of time, it helps with being able to go back retroactively and punish people who deserve to be punished.
ST: Do you have any predictions about who will win the Olympic triathlon in 2008?
As a person who will be officiating at the Olympics, I don’t think it will be appropriate for me to comment.
