LONDON, March 18, 2015 -- Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) is working in partnership with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to finance increased out-of-competition drug testing for elite athletes participating in AWMM events. This is the largest anti-doping effort to date by a private athletic organization and will begin this summer.

Elite athletes who meet the criteria below will be included in the AWMM Elite Athlete Testing Pool and subject to additional testing. This increased testing, coordinated by the IAAF, will be an addition to and not replace current national and international agency and individual AWMM in- and out-of-competition testing programs.

The following elite athletes will be included in the 2015 AWMM Testing Pool:

1. All athletes who have earned WMM points in 2012-2015.

2. All athletes entered into a 2015 AWMM race who are not included in 1, and who have run 2:27:00 or better (female) or 2:11:00 or better (male) in any marathon during 2012-2014. If these athletes do not score AWMM points, he/she will be dropped from the pool after the event.

3. All athletes making their marathon debut and entered into a 2015 AWMM race who have run a half marathon 1:09:00 or better (female) or 1:00:00 or better (male).

4. In line with the IAAF Anti-Doping Regulations, any other athlete deemed fit for inclusion – at the combined discretion and decision of the AWMM and the IAAF.

5. Entry and exit into and from the AWMM testing pool is fluid and will be updated on a seasonal basis.

6. After the third anniversary of the latest performance earning AWMM points, athletes will leave the pool.  If an athlete officially retires from competition, he or she will leave the pool.

7. All athletes will be subject to the same rules, obligations and considerations as all others included in the IAAF Registered Testing Pool; with a commitment that they be tested on a regular basis, relative to their competitive schedule, environment and any other aspects deemed pertinent.

All aspects of the testing program will be coordinated by the IAAF Medical & Anti-Doping Department, ensuring that collective resources are maximized and all athletes are subjected to an equally rigorous, bespoke testing program. The testing pool will be approximately 150 athletes, and all athletes must participate in the testing in order to be eligible to receive any AWMM prize money.

AWMM Race Directors reserve the right to amend the criteria for inclusion in the AWMM Testing Pool, at any time, in cooperation with the IAAF Medical and Anti-Doping Departments.

“The Race Directors of the AWMM are determined to eradicate cheating in our events,” said Nick Bitel, AWMM General Counsel. “We believe that this new testing pool initiative, set up in conjunction with the IAAF, is a major step forward in achieving our aim.”

About Abbott World Marathon Majors

The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) was established in 2006 and is now comprised of Qualifying Races including the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW BERLIN, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. In the years in which they are run, the Series also includes the IAAF World Championships and Olympic Marathons. At the conclusion of each Series cycle, a $1 million prize purse is divided equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world as determined by points earned in Qualifying Races. The inaugural 2006-2007 Series was launched at the 110th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2006, and concluded at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4, 2007. The 2013-2014 series, the WMM's eighth two-year series, began with the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 24, 2013, and concluded at the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 2, 2014. The first Abbott World Marathon Majors series, titled AWMM Series IX, began at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and will conclude after completion of the 2016 Tokyo Marathon.

CONTACTS:

TOKYO MARATHON                                       BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

Ulala Nagashima                                              Thomas Steffens

nagashima@tokyo42195.org                            thomas.steffens@scc-events.com

+81.3.5500.6639                                              +49.171.9334836                                                

BOSTON MARATHON                                    BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON

Jack Fleming                                                    Alex Sawyer

fleming@baa.org                                              alex.sawyer@bankofamerica.com

+1.617.778.1627                                              +1.312.992.6618                                                                       

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON        TCS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

Penny Dain                                                       Chris Weiller               

pennyd@london-marathon.co.uk                      cweiller@nyrr.org        

+44.0.7799.170433                                           +1.212.320.4046  

AWMM  

Cindy Hamilton

cindy@kickstandcomms.com

+1.312.659.0554