Inside ISSF

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) The Prohibited List | World Anti Doping Agency is the comprehensive document serving as the international standard for identifying substances and methods prohibited in sport. If a substance of method (or its related compound) is on the List, you cannot use it without a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Broken down by categories, the Prohibited List identifies which substances and methods are prohibited in-competition, out-of-competition, as well as in some cases, by specific sport. Following an extensive consultation process, WADA updates the Prohibited List annually and the new List goes into effect January 1 of each year.

The easiest way to check the prohibited status of medications is to visit GlobalDRO.com. The Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO) provides athletes and support personnel with information about the prohibited status of specific medications based on the Prohibited List.

NOTE: Global DRO does not contain information on, or that applies to, any dietary supplement.

If an athlete has a cold, flu, or hay fever there are several permitted medications. Ensure medications do not contain other prohibited stimulants by checking various Online Drug References like GlobalDRO.com . Antihistamines are, in general, permitted as are cough medications and some decongestants purchased over the counter. Always ask questions and check ingredients before taking anything.

Slight to moderate pain can be effectively treated using non-narcotic drugs. Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aleve, and Celebrex) are permitted. They have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-killing) actions. But be reminded that you must still declare any medication you have taken on your Doping Control Form in the event of a test.

Some medications prescribed by physicians for treatment of legitimate medical conditions or injuries may be prohibited. A prohibited substance is still prohibited, even if prescribed by a doctor. If this substance is found in an athlete’s sample, it does not matter if the doctor prescribed it, the athlete will be responsible.

Athletes are strongly advised to promptly apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption “TUE” before using any medication prescribed by their doctor.

Always ask about the substance that is given to you, always apply for a TUE before its use and do not take it if there is any doubt as to whether or not it may be prohibited.

Alternative medications that are not prohibited may be available and can/must be used for treatment in lieu of prohibited substances. Ask your physician about these alternatives.

There may be cases where the medication is essential, and no permitted alternatives exist. In those circumstances a Therapeutic Use Exemption may be requested from the ISSF if you are an international-level athlete. You may apply to your National Anti-Doping Organization if you are a national-level athlete. Submission of a TUE application does not mean automatic approval of a TUE. You should always apply for a TUE no less than 30 days in advance of a competition.

YES. Herbal remedies have been found to contain prohibited stimulants or other substances which may not be found on the ingredient list on the label. These products vary greatly and a guarantee cannot be given as to their safety or acceptability in sport. As a general rule, you are best to avoid taking herbal remedies unless you are sure that they contain no prohibited substances.

Carefully read the ingredients of anything you plan on ingesting before doing so. Consult the WADA Prohibited List and the GlobalDRO.com. Ask questions. Contact your National Anti-Doping Organization. Do on-line searches. Use any means available to you to find out if the medication or supplement you wish to take is safe to use.

Do not take any unknown substances (e.g., from a friend or acquaintance who offers something to help) and never take a family member's prescription. The use of foreign medications is strongly discouraged.

Bottom line: if you are not sure, do not use it.

Extreme caution is recommended regarding supplement use. A number of positive tests have been attributed to the misuse of supplements, poor labelling or contamination of dietary supplements, and there is no guarantee that a supplement is free from prohibited substances.

Risks of supplements include:

• Manufacturing standards, which are often less strict compared with medicines. These lower standards often lead to supplement contamination with an undeclared prohibited substance;
• Fake or low-quality products which may contain prohibited substances – and be harmful to health;
• Mislabelling of supplements with ingredients wrongly listed and prohibited substances not identified on the product label;
• Misleading and false claims that a particular supplement is endorsed by Anti-Doping Organisations or that it is “safe for athletes”. Anti-Doping Organisations do not certify supplements.

All athletes should do a risk-benefit assessment if they are considering the use supplements. The first step of such an assessment is to consider whether a “food-first” approach meets the athlete’s needs. Whenever possible, such assessment should be done with a support of a certified nutritionist or other qualified professional who is familiar with the World Anti-Doping Code and the ISSF Anti-Doping Rules.

If, after careful consideration, an athlete chooses to use supplements, they must take the necessary steps to minimise the risks. This includes:

• Thorough research on the type and dose of the supplement, preferably with the advice of a certified nutritionist or other qualified professional who is familiar with anti-doping rules.
• Selecting only those supplements that have been batch-tested by an independent company. Companies that batch-test supplements include Informed Sport, Certified for Sport or Kölner Liste.

Remember, no supplement is 100% risk-free but athletes and Athlete Support Personnel can take certain steps to minimise these risks.

For more information, please watch this ITAwebinar on nutritional supplements.