What is doping?
Doping is the use of prohibited substances or methods that enhance performance. Using masking substances to mask such use is also considered doping.
Who decides what is considered a prohibited substance or method?
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) a Prohibited List every year which sets out all banned substances and methods in and out of competition. The list is published and updated every year.
Does anti-doping law apply only to athletes?
No. Coaches, doctors, trainers, physiotherapists, and other Athlete Support Personnel can also be sanctioned for violating anti-doping rules.
What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)?
A Therapeutic Use Exemption allows an Athlete with a medical condition to Use a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, but only if the conditions set out for the therapeutic Use Exemption are met.
What is the Registered Testing Pool (RTP)?
The RTP is the highest tier pool of International or National level athletes established by an International Federation for a particular sport and/or a National Anti-Doping Organisations to enable no advance notice testing.
What is No Advance Notice Testing?
It is a sample collection that takes place with no advance warning to the Athlete and where the Athlete is continuously chaperoned from the moment of notification through to Sample provision.
What is the Criteria for inclusion in the Registered testing pool?
Athletes are selected for the RTP based on various criteria detailed in WADA’s International Standard for Testing & Investigation. Click here to view the criteria.
What amounts to Whereabouts Failure by an athlete?
It is any combination of three missed tests and/or filing failures within a twelve-month period by an Athlete in a Registered Testing Pool.
A missed test is failure by the Athlete to be available for Testing at the location and time specified in the 60-minute time slot identified in their Whereabouts Filing.
A filling failure is when an athlete does not file their whereabouts information on time or provides inaccurate information.
How does an athlete know if they need to submit whereabouts?
Athletes who are enrolled in a Registered Testing Pool will be notified directly of their inclusion and instruction in regard to how to submit your whereabouts are given in the notification.
What is an Adverse Analytical Finding?
It is a report from a WADA-accredited laboratory or other WADA-approved laboratory that establishes the presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s sample in accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories.
What is an Adverse Passport Finding?
It is a report from an Athlete Passport Management Unit that is the end result of the evaluation of the longitudinal profile of Markers, other Passport information (such as training and competition schedules) and Expert review that is inconsistent with a normal physiological condition or known pathology and compatible with the Use of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method.
What is an Atypical Finding?
It is a report from a WADA-accredited laboratory or other WADA-approved laboratory which requires further investigation as provided by the International Standard for Laboratories or related Technical Documents prior to the determination of an Adverse Analytical Finding.
What are the definitions for in-competition and Out-of Competition?
In-Competition refers to the period commencing at 11:59 p.m. on the day before a Competition in which the Athlete is scheduled to participate through the end of such Competition and the Sample collection process related to such Competition. Out-of-competition refers to any period which is not in-competition.
What happens if an athlete is found guilty of doping?
They can face consequences such as disqualification of results, suspension or an ineligibility period of up to four years or more, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
Can athletes appeal a doping sanction?
Yes. Athletes have the right to appeal the Sanctions given under article 13 of the World Anti-Doping Code.