Anti Doping Therapeutic Use Exemptions

ISSF TUE Application Form - Use this form to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

An exemption will only be considered by the ISSF for a medically justified reason and under the following circumstances:

• the Shooter would experience a significant impairment to health if the prohibited substance or method were to be withheld in the course of treating an acute or chronic medical condition;
• the use of the prohibited substance or method would produce no additional enhancement of performance other than that which might be anticipated by a return to a state of normal health following the treatment of a legitimate medical condition, and;
• there is no reasonable therapeutic alternative or any alternative is inefficient.

For example, when the above-mentioned conditions have been demonstrated, a TUE may be granted to a Shooter for:

• the use of Insulin for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes; or
• the use of a Salbutamol inhaler for the treatment of asthma.

A TUE would not be granted by the ISSF for:

• ANY  BETA-BLOCKERS
• the use of a nutritional supplement or vitamin; nor
• the recreational use of cannabinoids.

Where does a Shooter have to apply for a TUE?

All International-level Shooters must contact the ISSF to apply for a TUE. All National-level Shooters should contact their National Anti-Doping Organization to apply for a TUE.

When should a Shooter apply for a TUE?
Applications should be made at the time the prohibited medication is recommended to the Shooter by the Shooter’s physician. During the competitive season, the application must be submitted prior to participating in an event.

How can a Shooter apply for a TUE?
There are no longer two kinds of TUEs.

As of 2009 the abbreviated TUE no longer exists.  There are standard TUE’s and retroactive TUE’s

For a TUE application to be considered, the Shooter must submit a TUE Form (available upon request to the ISSF) as well as all relevant documents that confirm the Shooter’s physician’s diagnosis to the ISSF. All relevant documentation would include the following: comprehensive medical history, examinations, laboratory investigations, imaging studies, and copies of original reports and/or letters.

All TUE applications to the ISSF are reviewed by a panel of physicians with experience in treating Shooters and knowledge of clinical, sports and exercise medicine. Decisions will be conveyed to the Shooter by the ISSF.

Shooters are advised to retain copies of their submitted TUE applications in the event of an adverse analytical result.

In no case will the ISSF grant a TUE for a beta-blocker.

All TUEs granted by the ISSF are forwarded to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Only for Asthma (inhaled Beta-2 agonists and inhaled Glucocorticosteroids)

The revised ISTUE, which takes into consideration stakeholder feedback and current medical perspectives such as the International Olympic Committee Consensus on Asthma issued in February 2008 (calling for strict control of use of controls of these drugs by Shooters) is based on the premise that for the process to be manageable while at the same time  deterrent enough for elite Shooters, different requirements can be requested of Shooters depending on their level (international or national level).

All Shooters needing to use inhaled Beta-2 agonists and inhaled Glucorticosteroids for asthma must have a medical file and must declare these substances in ADAMS and on the doping control form.

For international-level Shooters:

Shooters part of the ISSF international registered testing pool (RTP) need an approved Standard TUE for asthma prior to using the substance.

For Shooters who are not part of the ISSF RTP but are taking part in an international event, it is at the discretion of the ISSF either to deliver a TUE prior to the event or to provide a retroactive TUE in case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF). The granting of a retroactive TUE has to comply with the criteria set forth in the revised ISTUE.

Shooters are reminded that a TUE is still required for glucocorticosteroids administered by oral, intravenous, intramuscular or rectal routes.

For national-level Shooters:

• It is at the discretion of the NADO either to approve the TUE or to provide a retroactive TUE in case of an AAF.  In any case, all Shooters may request a TUE if they wish to do so.

For more details regarding the TUE processes, consult the Therapeutic Use Exemption Rules Guidelines on the WADA website. www.wada-ama.org.

The Declaration of Use and Abbreviated TUEs no longer exist.

If selected for testing at a competition or for out-of-competition testing, the Shooter will be requested to declare any prescription or non-prescription medications and nutritional supplements taken within the last ten (10) days. This information will be noted on the Shooter’s Doping Control Form.

While this declaration is voluntary, it is in the Shooter’s best interest to declare the use of such medications at the time of sample collection as it may provide relevant information should a positive result be reported. Such a declaration, however, does not replace the requirement for providing prior TUE applications to the ISSF as outlined above.

Statement from the ISSF Medical Committee

Beta blockers are prohibited in and out of competition in the shooting sport in any form and/or delivery method (pills, eye drops, patches, liquids, root extracts etc.).

However, ISSF acknowledges the medical necessity of some aging Shooters to control hypertension with the use of beta blockers from time to time.

In order to encourage our aging population of Shooters to continue participating in shooting-sports events, the ISSF will recognize a national level TUE duly granted by a National Anti-Doping Organization. 

In those limited instances where a Shooter is 40 years of age or older, does not belong to a national or international registered testing pool and has a documented medical condition requiring the use of beta blockers, a national level TUE shall be recognized by the ISSF so long as it has been granted in strict compliance with the relevant NADO’s TUE guidelines and the International TUE Standard (and as always subject to refusal from the ISSF in accordance with ISSF Anti-Doping Rules).

ISSF does not grant TUE’s for beta blockers to any Shooter competing at the international level and the ISSF shall never recognize a national level TUE for beta blockers granted to an international level Shooter for any ISSF sanctioned event.