Squamish triathlete receives two-year ban

Julie Miller’s reputation has taken another hit.

Following three first-place disqualifications, it was announced Monday that Miller is banned from all Triathlon Canada-sanctioned events for the next two years retroactive to Nov. 1, 2015. The suspension follows an extensive review.

Miller’s three most hotly contested incidents took place at 2013 and 2015 Ironman Canada events and the 2014 Subaru Vancouver Triathlon.

In September, Ironman — an independent organization — indefinitely suspended Miller from all its events and had her 2013 and 2015 results negated after it deemed the Squamish native failed to complete the races. In 2014, Triathlon B.C. ruled Miller had “performance irregularities” in her timing at the 2014 Subaru Vancouver Triathlon and disqualified her.

“We considered the fact that over a point-to-point and loop course there was an inconsistency that was reported and that was really the basis of this whole investigative process,” said Tim Wilson, chief executive officer of Triathlon Canada. “At that point we asked for her to come forward with a testimonial defence which she gave in its entirety and when we weighed it all up, we still believed there was good reason to provide a sanction against her for the next two years.

“She had a 15-day appeal process period but declined to use it, so we moved forward with the sanction.”

The disciplinary committee has also rescinded Miller’s Triathlon Canada Award of Excellence, her name from all national championship race results from 2013 to the present and submitted a formal request to the International Triathlon Union to investigate Miller’s first-place finish at the 2014 Long Distance World Championships in China.

“We were able to extend our Canada-wide sanction to the fullest but we don’t have any jurisdiction when it comes to offshore penalties, so that’s why the request was made,” Wilson said.

Miller maintained her innocence in the matter.

“Triathlon Canada’s decision is based on previous anecdotal and inaccurate information — there’s nothing new here,” she said in an email to The Vancouver Sun. “I was contacted three days before the review and given 72 hours to defend myself. I have young children and a full-time job as well as my volunteer commitments, so this wasn’t fair or realistic.

“Most importantly, I did not cheat and stand by my original statement.”

In Miller’s original release, she maintained she lost her timing chips in both Ironman races and that was ultimately the only reason for her disqualification.

“I wish I knew what happened to my timing chip during the Ironman event so there would be a reliable record of my race activity,” she said in the statement.

“Technology has bitten most of us at least once or twice, and usually at the worst possible time. This was one of those times. I’ve paid the price for that, in being disqualified and for not having a functioning chip at the finish.”

Miller says she plans to continue to train “daily for future events” and she will make no further comments on the matter.