Episode 495: Performance Enhancing Drugs In Ultramarathon | Kilian Korth

Kilian Korth joined the show to have a discussion around ultrarunning's growing professionalization without sophisticated regulated drug testing, the limits and trade-offs of WADA/USADA-style regimes, and why "doping" as a blanket term obscures intent and severity. We unpack gray areas such as THC thresholds, TUE complexity for common medications, transparency vs backlash, influencer incentives, and the future pressure regenerative medicine and technology (e.g., super shoes) may place on sport rules.

Kilian: IG: @runtoughmindset | Substack: https://substack.com/@runtoughmindset

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Episode Summary & Notes: Zach Bitter & Kilian Korth on PEDs, incentives, and doping in ultrarunning

Context & framing Conversation is the third appearance by Kilian on Zach's podcast; shifts from traditional training/racing episodes toward current events in running.

Sparked by recent doping-related controversies (Cam Hanes / Sage Canaday online conflict, Mike McKnight's discussion of BPC-157 use on Hanes' podcast).

Both emphasize moving beyond narrow focus on specific peptides/cases to broader structural issues.

Activism, incentives & tribalism Skepticism of modern activism: good causes often get distorted by perverse incentives (attention, platform growth, organizational self-preservation/mission creep).

Online environments (especially short-form social media) reward polarization over curiosity or truth-seeking.