How Bad Is Doping In Recreational Running And Triathlon Really? | Collin Chartier

Former professional triathlete Colin Chartier joins Matt for a wide-ranging and controversial conversation about doping in endurance sport, the realities of EPO use and testing loopholes, and how his life changed after receiving a three-year suspension following a positive test in 2023.

* We apologise for the poor audio quality in this podcast episode at times *

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Chartier was once ranked 11th in the world and won both Ironman Mont-Tremblant (2022) and the PTO US Open before his career came crashing down. He speaks openly about the pressure that narrowed his identity entirely around performance and winning, why he chose to dope, how easily substances can be sourced online and through clinics, and how many athletes likely understand testing loopholes far better than the public realizes.

He details the day of his EPO test in Girona, Spain, including taking an out-of-hours call from testers while swimming and later realizing he could have avoided the test entirely. Colin also discusses the emotional aftermath, the advice he received to immediately accept responsibility, and an offer from the ITA for a reduced “silent ban” in exchange for substantial assistance that he says he was unable to provide.

The conversation then shifts toward identity, shame, mental health, and rebuilding life after elite sport. Colin explains how a long solo bikepacking trip through Mexico, Central America, and Colombia eventually led him toward breathwork and nervous-system regulation practices that became transformative for him personally.

Matt and Colin also discuss how widespread doping may actually be in recreational endurance sport, peptides and recovery technologies, the ethics of the Enhanced Games, and whether modern anti-doping systems are truly effective.

Colin closes by discussing the launch of GroundApp - an iOS breathwork and nervous-system regulation app that integrates wearable data and emotional state tracking - as well as his upcoming 2,000-mile run from Denver to Washington, DC beginning June 10.

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Topics:

00:00 - Meet Colin Chartier

00:55 - Ban and Accountability

04:01 - Why He Chose Doping

05:41 - Bike Escape and Breathwork

07:54 - Sourcing EPO and Loopholes

12:26 - Test Day in Girona

15:58 - Aftermath and Silent Ban Offer

19:10 - How Widespread Is Doping

20:21 - How Much EPO Helps

22:01 - Recreational Doping and WADA Rules

25:56 - Peptides and Recovery Tech

28:50 - Running Across America Plan

29:24 - Marathon Record Doping Talk

30:35 - Enhanced Games Debate

31:06 - Backlash And Bike Escape

31:36 - Bikepacking Pain And Perspective

34:02 - Letting Go Of The Plan

35:46 - Breathwork Breakthrough

39:47 - Colombia And Coming Home

40:20 - Hero’s Journey Lessons

43:30 - GroundApp Launch And Features

50:50 - Mindset Coaching For Athletes

55:11 - Wrap Up And Next Steps