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.
Athletics Ireland Anti-doping Officer: Róisín Lande
Email: AthleteServices@athleticsireland.ie
Phone: 085 808 4864
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.
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
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 (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.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
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 received a Certificate of Approval except in a medical emergency where you should contact the Irish Sprots Council/International Federation immediately
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 doctor must complete and sign the TUE which should be accompanied by a medical file *
All TUE applications MUST be accompanied by a medical file* reflecting current best medical practice to include:
For Asthma TUE applications, the medical file should also specifically include:
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
Declaration 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.
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.
One or more of the following criteria is used to select an athlete for inclusion in the Registered Testing Pool:
RTP athletes are required to:
RTP Athletes must avoid committing a Whereabouts Failure. A Whereabouts Failure is either a Filing Failure or a Missed Test:
Failure and the athlete may also lose any funding they are receiving from the Council or any other organisation.
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.
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.
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