Stian Angermund | Suspension, Legal Defense, & Return to Racing
Jan 22, 2025
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Stian Angermund, a two-time World Champion trail runner from Norway, opens up about his shocking doping allegations. He candidly discusses the emotional and financial struggles faced after his positive test for a banned diuretic. Stian navigates through the complexities of A and B sample testing while maintaining his innocence. He stresses the need for integrity in sports and the crucial support from the trail running community during this tumultuous time. As he prepares for a comeback, he reflects on valuable lessons and the importance of honest advocacy.
Stian Angermund passionately defends his innocence against doping allegations, emphasizing the emotional and financial toll this ordeal has taken on him.
He explains the rigorous anti-doping control process that he underwent, underscoring its significance in maintaining the integrity of the sport.
Stian shares the immense support he received from the trail running community, highlighting the importance of solidarity during moments of adversity.
Deep dives
Stian Angermund's Doping Allegations
Stian Angermund, a two-time world champion trail runner, faces serious allegations after testing positive for chlorthalidone, a banned diuretic, following his victory at the OCC race in August 2023. The substance is known to be used for masking other drugs and facilitating rapid weight loss, leading to significant scrutiny and a damaged reputation for Stian. During the podcast, he recounts the emotional turmoil he experienced upon receiving the notification of his positive test, stating that it felt like his entire life collapsed. He emphasizes his commitment to a clean sport and his shock at being associated with cheating, something he vehemently denies having done.
The Doping Control Process
Stian describes the anti-doping control process he underwent right after winning the OCC race, explaining the procedures involved in providing urine samples for testing. Despite having experienced doping controls multiple times throughout his career, he details the standard steps, including confirming identification numbers on both A and B samples to ensure their integrity. The meticulousness of this process is crucial in maintaining the sport's fairness, but Stian highlights how shocking it was to later learn that he had tested positive. He notes the importance of this verification process, showcasing how it plays a vital role in ensuring the credibility of sporting competitions.
Impact of Delays in Communication
Stian shares the frustrating timeline of events following his positive test, noting a significant delay in communication from the French Anti-Doping Authority. There were 50 days between his test and the notification of the adverse finding, which complicated his ability to mount a defense. This gap made it nearly impossible to confirm the source of the contamination or to recall events accurately from that time. Stian articulates the emotional toll this uncertainty took on him, as it left him grappling with the implications for his career and personal life without a clear course of action.
Public Response and Support
After going public with the doping allegations in early 2024, Stian received an overwhelming amount of support from his friends, family, and the trail running community. He expressed gratitude for the positive reactions he received, which helped mitigate some of the fear and isolation he felt during the ordeal. Although he was apprehensive about facing public scrutiny, the kindness and encouragement he experienced from fellow runners offered him solace. Stian reflects on how this experience has shown him the importance of community and support during challenging times, particularly in a sport where the pressure to uphold integrity is paramount.
Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations
Stian emphasizes the importance of integrity and adherence to one’s values throughout this ordeal, advising other athletes to stay true to themselves and seek support when facing similar challenges. He underscores the significance of conducting thorough investigations into any doping incidents, reiterating that accountability and transparency should govern the sport. Stian looks forward to returning to competition, expressing a desire to teach and mentor upcoming athletes while rebuilding his own career. With hopes of participating in upcoming races, including the World Trail Championships and potential European events, he’s eager to embrace the community once again after a tumultuous experience.
Stian Angermund is a two-time World Champion trail runner from Norway. One of the best performing athletes in the sport for the past decade, Stian has been noticeably absent from the racing circuit since OCC by UTMB 2023 – the 50k World Final – where Stian won for the 2nd time.
After OCC, it came to light that Stian had tested positive for a diuretic called Chlorthalidone – a substance that is banned in and out-of-competition for masking other banned substances or facilitating rapid weight loss. Stian has spent the last year and a half defending himself against these allegations and has vehemently maintained his innocence.
To my knowledge, this is Stian’s first time speaking about the subject in a long-form interview and, to his credit, he left nothing out-of-bounds, supplying me with all relevant documentation from the case. Of course, doping is serious, it does happen, and when it does, it’s a terrible violation of everything that makes sport great. At the same time, there are banned athletes who are innocent or who test positive under questionable circumstances. Recognizing that this is a touchy subject that deserves scrutiny and seriousness, I encourage you to listen with an open mind and allow Stian to tell his side of the story.
We walk through the entire timeline of events, the emotional cost in losing his career, the financial cost of defending himself, the public support he’s received, lessons learned, advice for other pro athletes, his goals for returning to sport, and a lot more.
