Subic Ironman bets to undergo drug testing and Uytengsu wants PBA to do the same

Fred Uytengsu, owner of Ironman organizer Sunrise Events, Inc. and Alaska Aces in the PBA. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

SUBIC—All 1,219 participants of the country’s first full-distance Ironman were subjected to doping tests under the supervision of the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC).

Fred Uytengsu of organizer Sunrise Events, Inc. said the WTC, Ironman’s parent company and a governing body signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), is also mandated to collect urine or blood samples of the winners of the event slated here this Sunday.

“Yes, we comply with the rules,” Uytengsu said Friday, during the welcome ceremony for participants of the Century Tuna Ironman Philippines at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Also the owner of the Alaska Aces team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Uytengsu said it’s about time the PBA applies Wada rules to test its players.

“Not next season, not soon, but now,” said Uytengsu. “I’ve long been pressing for it. Who knows? There might be others aside from Kiefer (Ravena).”

The PBA rookie Ravena won’t be playing until August next year after testing positive for three substances banned by Wada. He was tested last February as a member of Gilas Pilipinas, which adheres to Fiba [international basketball association] rules.