In 2021 Ironman competitor Collin Chartier was struggling to earn results and win enough money to get his bike fixed according to Trizone.com.au, then in September 2022 he claimed the biggest win of his career at the PTO US Open triathlon, shocking the triathlon community and taking home a massive $100,000 cash prize.

Now, the 30 year-old former mid-grade amateur bike racer turned triathlete has tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), admitted to doping, accepted a three-year ban and quit the sport.

An International Testing Agency (ITA) press release on 24 April announced that Chartier tested positive as the result of a random out-of-competition anti-doping test:

“The ITA, on behalf of Ironman, hereby reports that U.S. athlete Collin Chartier has committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) under article 2.1 of the Ironman Anti-Doping Rules (Ironman ADR) for the presence of erythropoietin (EPO) in a sample collected out-of-competition by Ironman on 10 February 2023. The sample collected from Collin Chartier returned an adverse analytical finding for the non-specified prohibited substance EPO. EPO is prohibited under the 2023 World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List as peptide hormone (S2). EPO stimulates erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and can modify the body’s capacity to transport oxygen and, therefore, increase stamina and performance.”

Immediately after being banned Collier gave an exclusive interview on the How They Train podcast, where he claimed that he only started using EPO in November 2022 and justified its use by saying, “[I] couldn’t reach the expectations I felt for this year without turning to EPO. I really wanted to win this year and beat the best…” 

Chartier also said he does not plan to return any winnings or return to the sport, “I have no desire to return because the sacrifices I’ve taken, I don’t believe it’s worth it.”

On Instagram he posted, “I am sorry.”

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