What do athletes and athlete support personnel need to know about anti-doping?
Athletes, their support personnel and others who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). Part Three of the Code outlines all of the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the
anti-doping system.
Athletes Rights
“Every athlete has the right to clean sport!”
Ensuring that athletes are aware of their rights and that these rights are respected is vital to the success of clean sport. WADA’s Athlete Committee (now Athlete Council) drafted the Athletes’
Anti-Doping Rights Act(Act). This Act is made up of two parts. Part one sets out rights that are found in the Code and International Standards. Part two sets out recommended athlete rights that are not found in the Code or International Standards but are
rights that athletes recommend that Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) adopt for best practice.
Athlete rights outlined in the Code include:
Equal opportunities in their pursuit of sport, free of participation by other athletes who dope
Equitable and fair testing programs
A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application process
To be heard, to have a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a fair, impartial and operationally independent hearing panel, with a timely reasoned decision specifically including an explanation of the reasons of the decision
Right to appeal the hearing decision
Any ADO that has jurisdiction over them will be accountable for its action and an athlete shall have the ability to report any compliance issue
Ability to report Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) through an anonymous mechanism and not be subjected to threats or intimidation
Receiving anti-doping education
Fair handling of their personal information by ADOs in accordance with the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI) and
any local applicable law
To pursue damages from another athlete whose actions have damaged that athlete by the commission of an ADRV
During the sample collection process, right to:
See the identification of the Doping Control Officer (DCO)
Request additional information about the sample collection process, about the authority under which it will be carried out and on the type of sample collection
Hydrate
Be accompanied by a representative and, if available, an interpreter
Request modifications for athletes with impairments (if applicable)
Be informed of their rights and responsibilities
Receive a copy of the records of the process
Have further protections for "protected persons” because of their age or lack of legal capacity
Request and attend the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding)
Athletes´ Responsibilities
Athletes’ rights to clean sport come with corresponding responsibilities, and athletes may be tested in- and out-of-competition, anytime, anywhere and with no advance notice.
Their clean sport responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
Being available for sample collection (urine, blood or dried blood spot (DBS)), whether in-competition or out-of-competition
Remaining within direct observation of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone at all times from notification until the completion of the sample collection process
Providing identification upon request during the sample collection process
Ensuring that no prohibited substance enters their body and that no prohibited method is used on them
Ensuring that any treatment is not prohibited according to the Prohibited Listin force and checking this with the prescribing physicians, or directly with WDSF if necessary
Applying to WDSF if no alternative permitted treatment is possible and a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required (see TUE application process) TUE
Form.
Reporting immediately for sample collection after being notified of being selected for doping control
Ensuring the accuracy of the information entered on the Doping Control Form (DCF)
Cooperating with ADOs investigating ADRVs
Not working with coaches, trainers, physicians or other athlete support personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV or who have been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping (see WADA’s Prohibited
Association List)
Athlete Support Personnel Rights
Athlete support personnel and other persons also have rights and responsibilities under the Code. These include:
Right to a fair hearing, before an independent hearing panel
Right to appeal the hearing decision
Rights regarding data protection, according to the ISPPPI and any local applicable law
Athlete Support Personnel Responsibilities
Athlete support personnel’s responsibilities under the Code include:
Using their influence on athlete values and behaviors to foster clean sport behaviors
Knowing and complying with all applicable anti-doping policies and rules, including the WDSF Anti-Doping Rules (in line with the Code)
Cooperating with the athlete doping control program
Cooperating with ADOs investigating Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)
Informing the relevant IF and/or NADO if they have committed an ADRV in the last 10 years
Refraining from possessing a prohibited substance (or a prohibited method)*, administering any such substance or method to an athlete, trafficking, covering up an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) or other forms of complicity and associating with a person
convicted of doping (prohibited association). These are ADRVs applicable to athlete support personnel under Article 2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 21 of the WDSF Anti-Doping Rules.
* Unless the athlete support personnel can establish that the possession is consistent with a TUE granted to an athlete or other acceptable justification. Acceptable justification would include, for example, a team doctor carrying prohibited
substances for dealing with acute and emergency situations.
WDSF Recommendation to Athlete Support Personnel
Here are some ways athlete support personnel can support their athletes in their education on clean sport:
Register and take a course suitable to you on the WADA’s ADEL platform
Follow the ITA pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where the main updates about anti-doping will be published
Contact ITA for any questions you may have
What are the organizations involved in protecting clean sport?
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. WADA’s governance and funding are based on equal partnership between the Sport Movement and Governments of the world.
WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. WADA’s key activities include:
Scientific and social science research
Education
Intelligence & investigations
Development of anti-doping capacity and capability
Monitoring of compliance with the World Anti-Doping Program.
WDSF is responsible for implementing an effective and Code-compliant anti-doping program for DanceSport Under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), IFs are required to carry out the following anti-doping activities:
Providing education programs
Analyzing the risk of doping in their sport
Conducting in-competition and out-of-competition testing
Management of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for international-level athletes
Results Management including sanctioning those who commit Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)
NADOs are organizations designated by each country as possessing the primary authority and responsibility to:
Adopt and implement anti-doping rules at a national level
Plan and carry out anti-doping education
Plan tests and adjudicate anti-doping rule violations at a national level
Test athletes from other countries competing within that nation’s borders if required to
Check the list of NADOs to find out who to contact in your country.
If a NADO has not been designated in a country, the National Olympic Committee (NOC), if there is no NADO, takes over these responsibilities.
Regional Anti-Doping Organizations (RADOs)
In a number of regions of the world, countries have pooled their resources together to create a RADO responsible for conducting anti-doping activities in the region in support of NADOs.
RADOs bring together geographically-clustered groups of countries where there are limited or no anti-doping activities, for which they take over responsibility, including:
Providing anti-doping education for athletes, coaches and support personnel
Testing athletes
Training of local sample collection personnel (doping control officers/chaperones)