Jared Tallent can't help but be suspicious.
In the last two years, the champion Australian walker has only been beaten by four men over 50km -- all of them Russians.
He expected them to be on the startlist at a world championships held in their own country, where race walking is a very popular sport.
But all four - including reigning Olympic 50km champion Sergey Kirdyapkin and 2011 world champ Sergey Bakulin - are absent from the start list for Wednesday's race.
In their place are little-known duo Ivan Noskov and Mikhail Ryzhov.
"It's been four different Russians who have beaten me and those four should be racing here on Wednesday but mysteriously they are all injured," said Tallent.
"They all have the same coach in Saransk (Viktor Chegin) and that coach has had more than 10 of his athletes test positive in the past.
"For them to all get injured this year is interesting."
Over the past five years, Tallent has amassed an impressive collection of walking medals, including three at the Olympics and 50km bronze at the 2011 world championships.
But that tally would be even more imposing were it not for the scourge of doping.
Tallent was beaten for gold in the 50km race at the Beijing Olympics by his occasional training partner Alex Schwazer from Italy.
"I never thought he would be a cheat and then he tested positive for EPO, he was the only one that had beaten me at a majors that wasn't a Russian," said Tallent.
"I've lost all respect for him, particularly when you are fighting against these Russians at every major competition.
"I guess you have your suspicions about them, they are there but you just have to do your best, stay motivated, train hard and do what you can to be the best prepared that you can be and take them down on your day."
Tallent takes some solace from the fact that the Russians have increased their drug-testing program in recent years.
The Australian has made a major change in the last 12 months, moving from Canberra to Adelaide.
That meant splitting with his long-time coach Brent Vallance.
His wife and former race walker Claire Tallent has taken on the coaching role, with the pair spending five weeks preparing at altitude in Switzerland before arriving in Moscow.
"We haven't really trained with many other people this year, just Team Tallent, trying to get the job done," said Jared Tallent.
"Hopefully we can win the gold medal this year because since 2008 I've won a medal at nearly every major championship but no gold."
Australia's other representatives in the 50km walk are Chris Erickson and Ian Rayson - with the latter replacing the injured Luke Adams.
