Reta Confirmed as Winner of Get in Gear 10K

Get in Gear officials announced today that the men's winner in their 10K event last week, Alena Reta, will remain their 2007 champion, despite revelations of having served a performance-enhancing drug suspension and having used an assumed name to enter an event that had denied him entry.

Get in Gear Executive Director Paulette Odenthal said in a statement:

"In regards to our 2007 overall winner Alena Reta we have completed our investigation and have not found grounds for further action."

"It is unfortunate that after thirty years we need to be more aware of potential misconduct in our athletes. As a preventive measure, moving forward, we are taking action on implementation of a policy for our future Get in Gear elite athlete requirements."

Reta won the race in 29:43.

Also ... Alena Reta apparently left a wake in Syracuse, New York too. The Syracuse Post-Standard reports that an area race has implemented drug testing one year after Reta won the event. (Thanks to Jim Ferstle for this item.)