The joint initiative provides mountain and trail running athletes with practical anti-doping guidance and will bring Athletics Integrity Unit experts directly to athletes, coaches and managers at Sierre-Zinal.

The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) have launched a new anti-doping education initiative specifically designed for the mountain and trail running community.

At the centre of the initiative is a new athlete guide providing clear and practical information about anti-doping regulations, testing procedures, and athletes' rights and responsibilities.

The guide covers key areas including:

• The role of the Athletics Integrity Unit
• What constitutes doping
• The Prohibited List
• Medication and supplement use
• Therapeutic Use Exemptions
• How anti-doping testing works
• Athletes' rights and responsibilities
• It also provides practical advice that athletes can apply during competition, including the requirement to declare all medications and supplements on the doping control form. Athletes are also advised to keep an accurate record of the products they use and bring this information with them to races.

Athletes are being encouraged to read the guide and share it with their coaches, managers and support teams, helping to build greater collective understanding of anti-doping procedures across the sport.

On 23 July the athletes were informed about the initiative and the upcoming on-site sessions. The Sierre-Zinal Local Organising Committee also announced the sessions through its official communication channels on 27 July.

FIRST ON-SITE EDUCATION SESSIONS AT SIERRE-ZINAL

Following the first online education session delivered in April, the WMRA and AIU will hold their first on-site anti-doping education sessions on Friday, 7 August 2026, ahead of the 53rd edition of Sierre-Zinal.

The sessions will take place at the Zinal Gym and will be led by Aditya Kumar from the Athletics Integrity Unit.

The programme will include:

• 10:30 – Athlete-only session: A dedicated and confidential environment in which athletes can learn more about anti-doping procedures and ask questions directly to the AIU.
• 14:00 – Coaches and managers' session: An opportunity for coaches, managers and other interested members of athletes' support teams to meet the AIU and strengthen their understanding of anti-doping responsibilities.
• The open question-and-answer format will provide participants with direct access to expert guidance and allow them to address practical situations that may arise throughout their sporting careers.

"At the WMRA, our commitment to clean sport is absolute. For the past six World Cup seasons, anti-doping tests have been conducted at every single World Cup race. To support this commitment, the WMRA reinvests up to 30% of each event's hosting fee to help organisers cover the cost of these compulsory controls. Protecting the integrity and fairness of our sport remains one of our highest priorities.

"Alongside testing, education was the logical next step. Following the first online session held in April, we are delighted to work with the Athletics Integrity Unit to deliver our first on-site anti-doping education sessions at Sierre-Zinal—an iconic race with 53 years of history. Providing athletes, coaches and managers with direct access to expert guidance is essential to building a stronger culture of awareness and responsibility across mountain running." — Jonathan Wyatt, six-time Mountain Running World Champion and WMRA World Cup Manager

Through this initiative, the WMRA and AIU are combining testing, education and direct engagement to ensure that athletes and their support teams have the knowledge required to make informed decisions.

Protecting clean athletes and preserving fair competition remain fundamental priorities for the WMRA and the future of mountain running.

GUIDE