Anti-Doping

Anti-Doping Policy

Athletics Ireland has adopted the Sports Anti-Doping Rules which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. Athletics Ireland strongly recommends that all High Performance athletes become familiar with their rights and responsibilities in relation to anti-doping programmes and act according. Athletics Ireland condemns the use of banned substances and unethical methods to improve the performance of athletes in sport. We support a fair and equitable competition environment and doping does not promote the good health and safe welfare of athletes. We believe that any illegal substances and methods are against the spirit of sport and will bring the Sport of Athletics into disrepute and accordingly have zero tolerance for such practices. The Irish Anti-doping Rules are available here.

How to check your medication here

Prohibited List here

Sport Ireland - Anti-doping information: https://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/

Athletics Ireland Anti-doping Officer: Róisín Lande Email: AthleteServices@athleticsireland.ie Phone: 085 808 4864

Anti-Doping Rule Violations

The Lab finding evidence of the use of a prohibited substance or method in your sample is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, but did you know the following are also rule violations:

Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a prohibited substance or method Refusing to provide a sample when requested Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of the drug testing procedures Possession of prohibited substance or method Trafficking or Attempted administration of any prohibited substances or method Administration or Attempted administration of any prohibited substances or method Committing three whereabouts failures in eighteen months. 

ELEARNING PROGRAMME

E-learning Anti-Doping education programme is an interactive e-learning education programme about Anti-Doping, brought to you by Sport Ireland. It gives athletes and their support personnel an understanding of key topics such as doping control procedures, the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, whereabouts systems, therapeutic use exemptions and the consequences of doping. When you have completed all modules, you can print a Certificate of Completion.

E learning covers topics including

Anti-doping rule violations
Testing procedures blood & urine
How to check medications
Therapeutic Use Exemptions
The risk of supplements and herbal remedies
Consequences of doping

This online programme can be accessed here.

European Athletics Anti-Doping programme I Run Clean must be completed by all athletes hoping to compete in any international competition as part of Team Ireland. A refresher version of the programme must be completed every 2 years. 

Therapeutic Use Exemption Policy

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Policy is based on the level that an athlete competes at, the level an athlete competes at determines whether the athlete needs to apply to the Irish Sports Council or their International Federation for a TUE, and if applying to the Irish Sports Council whether the athlete must apply for a TUE before using a prohibited substance, or has the option of applying for TUE retroactively following a positive drug test.

TUE Graph

*The Registered Testing Pool is a pool of top level athletes who are subject to both in- and out-of-competition testing, who must meet whereabouts requirements of the ISC. The RTP is agreed with the sport annually, and individual athletes are informed in writing of their inclusion in the RTP.

1: Applying to your International Federation (IF) for a TUE

Under the WADA Code Article 4.4 "Athletes who have been identified as included in their International Federation's Registered Testing Pool may only obtain therapeutic use exemptions in accordance with the rules of their International Federation. Each International Federation shall publish a list of those International Events for which a therapeutic use exemption from the International Federation is required."If the flowchart suggests that you should apply to the IF for a TUE, contact the Anti-Doping Officer of your sport or contact the International Federation directly to find out if the International Events you compete in are on the list requiring you to apply to the International Federation for a TUE. A list of IF contacts is available at www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Anti-Doping

2: Pre-Test TUE

If the flowchart suggests that you should apply for a Pre-Test TUE BEFORE you take the medication - follow the section below titled 'How to apply for a TUE'. You should not take the prohibited medication until you have received a Certificate of Approval.
In the case of a medical emergency where medical personnel need to administer medications immediately, contact the Irish Sports Council/ International Federation as soon as possible afterwards to seek advice on making a TUE Application for this emergency treatment.

3: Post-Test TUE

 If the flowchart suggests that you can apply for a Post-Test TUE, this means that following a drug test, if the lab reports an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), i.e. a prohibited substance is found in your sample, the Irish Sports Council will contact you to offer you the opportunity you to make a TUE application for the substance within specified timelines. All athletes are urged to ensure that their doctor keeps their medical file** up to date at all times, therefore you will be in a position to make this application if required.
If you are unable to prove through your TUE application that you were using the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method for a legitimate therapeutic purpose, the AAF will stand and the National Governing Body will start proceedings for a Disciplinary Hearing as per the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. If the TUE Committee reviews the medical file and is satisfied that you used the Prohibited Substance or Method for a legitimate purpose, the AAF is not pursued and no action is taken against you.

How to apply for a TUE

Allow at least 30 days prior to your next competition in order to allow sufficient time for the TUE Committee to make a decision on the application
You should not take the prohibited medication until you have recieved a Certificate of Approval except in a meciacl emergency where you should contact the Irish Sprots Council/International Federation immediatly 
Download a TUE form from www.irishsportscouncil.ie/tue
If a permitted medication can be used to treat the medical condition, the prescribing doctor must provide clinical justification on the TUE form for the requested use of the prohibited medication.
The PRESCRIBING doctoe must complete and sign the TUE which should be accompanied by a meciacl file *

All TUE applications MUST be accompanied by a medical file* reflecting current best medical practice to include:

1. A complete medical history
2. Copies of all relevant examinations and clinical notes (for example, if you reference a clinic visit in a letter or summary, you must include a copy of the clinical notes taken during the visit)
3. Copies of laboratory results/reports, and imaging studies
4. Exact name, speciality, address (including telephone, e-mail, fax) of examining physician.

For Asthma TUE applications, the medical file should also specifically include:

5. A comprehensive report of the clinical examination with specific focus on the respiratory system
6. A report of spirometry with the measure of the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
7. If airway obstruction is present, the spirometry will be repeated after inhalation of a short acting beta-2 agonist to demonstrate the reversibility of bronchoconstriction
8. In the absence of reversible airway obstruction, a bronchial provocation test is required to establish the presence of airway hyper responsiveness.

Submit the TUE Application Form and Medical File by post, fax or email (scanned copy)
The TUE Application will be considered by the TUE Committee which consists of several medical professionals. The Committee will make a decision to grant or reject the TUE Application based on TUE Guidelines published by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

You will be informed of the outcome in writing where the ISC will issue either a Certificate of Approval or Notice of Rejection. The outcome will also be forwarded to your National Governing Body, and where applicable your International Federation and/or WADA. The Certificate of Approval will have an expiry date and it is the responsibility of the athlete to reapply for a TUE where necessary

 Please Note:The Certificate of Approval is only valid for the substance(s) listed in your Certificate and should your treatment, dosage or situation change, you must contact the TUE Secretariat of the Irish Sports Council immediately as you may need to reapply for a new TUE for the change of treatment or change of dosage

Decleration of Use Policy

WADA have removed the requirement for a Declaration of Use from 01 January 2011; however athletes are reminded that they should declare all medications and supplements taken in the 14 days prior to drug testing on the Doping Control Form at the time of testing.

Note: Abbreviated TUEs, which were used under a previous system are no longer valid - you should check the current status of the medication and apply for a TUE where necessary.

 

Registered Testing Pool

What is the Registered Testing Pool (RTP)?

The RTP is a list of elite athletes, agreed between the NGB and the ISC, who meet certain criteria (outlined below). The Irish Sports Council will notify in writing athletes that are included in the RTP. 

Criteria for inclusion in the Registered Testing Pool

One or more of the following criteria is used to select an athlete for inclusion in the Registered Testing Pool:

Athletes on the carding scheme in the Contract, World Class and International categories
Athletes in the developmental category from high risk sports listed in the Council's Test Distribution Plan and other sports targeted by the Council
Olympic or Paralympic Qualifiers
Athletes who are included in an International Federation RTP
Any athlete currently serving a period of ineligibility
Any athlete who wishes to return from retirement and was previously in the Registered Testing Pool
Any other athlete that is required to be target tested under Clause 4.4.2 of the International Standard for Testing

RTP athletes are required to:

Submit a complete and accurate quarterly Whereabouts Filing
Update their Whereabouts Filing information
Apply for a Pre-Test Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for all Prohibited Methods and Substances in line with the Irish Sports Council TUE Policy

RTP Athletes must avoid committing a Whereabouts Failure

A Whereabouts Failure is either a Filing Failure or a Missed Test:

Filing Failure – If an athlete fails to return his/her quarterly Whereabouts Filing by the stated deadlines, fully and accurately completed, this may result in a Filing Failure and the athlete may also lose any funding they are receiving from the Council or any other organisation. 

Missed Test – If an athlete fails to be available for Testing at the location and time specified in the 60-minute time slot identified in his or her Whereabouts Filing for the day in question it may result in a Missed Test and the athlete may also lose any funding they are receiving from the Council or any other organisation. 

Tips for Completing your Whereabouts Filing and Updating your Whereabouts

Submit your Whereabouts Filing ahead of the deadline
Save reminders for the deadline dates in you mobile phone and calendars
Consider keeping your 60 minute time-slot and location the same and update changes
Print and keep a copy of your Whereabouts Filing with you, so you can monitor when you need to update the information
Save the whereabouts number 00353-87-9580211 in your phone
Ask your coach or close friends and family to save 00353-87-9580211 in their phone
Learn the whereabouts number 00353-87-9580211 off by heart so you can always make an update anywhere, anytime.

 Retirement

An athlete who retires must promptly inform the Anti-Doping Unit in writing through post or e-mail. If an athlete retires, he/she is immediately removed from the Registered Testing Pool (RTP). The Irish Sports Council will confirm the receipt of the retirement by letter and that the athlete is no longer on the RTP.

Return from Retirement

In accordance with the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, an Athlete who was previously included in the Registered Testing Pool and is returning from retirement may not resume competing unless he or she notifies the Irish Sports Council at least six (6) months before he or she expects to return to Competition and during that notice period making themselves available for Out-of-Competition Testing as required by the Irish Sports Council.

What happens in a Drug Test: link here

Newsletter sign up

Sign-up for the Athletics Ireland E-Zine with exclusive interviews, coaching news and offers!

Which of the following best describes you?