Anti-doping controls are an integral part of keeping sports clean, safe, and fair to all. Ignorance is not an excuse (as strict liability rules apply), and it is important that both athletes and coaches are aware of relevant anti-doping policies. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an international independent agency that develops and helps coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries signed up to their framework. That last point is crucial – it is up to each sport and country whether to adopt and implement WADA’s policies. For a substance to be banned by WADA it must meet two of the following three criteria:
- It enhances sport performance, or has the potential to do so
- It presents a risk to athlete health, or has the potential to do so
- It violates the spirit of sport (which is defined in the World Anti-Doping Code – https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/wada-2015-world-anti-doping-code.pdf)
Any athletes, coaches, doctors, or support personnel who are found guilty by WADA of taking, supplying, trafficking, or concealing the use of any banned substances will be banned from participating (in any capacity – this includes formally working with athletes as a coach, doctor, or support personnel) in all forms of sport that fall under WADA’s framework. This doesn’t mean that an athlete could be banned from going for a run by themself, but they would not be allowed to participate in any formal forms of competition or training. The duration of these bans will vary depending on the type of substances involved and the extent of the offence (e.g., a once-off accidental use may be considered less severe than ongoing and intentional use), with 2-4 year bans being standard (and lifetime bans are possible for repeat offenders).
Events like the trail-running world championships or any IAU world championship fall under the umbrella of World Athletics and thus must follow WADA’s guidelines. Independent trail and ultramarathon races may choose to adopt these same policies, but that decision is left to the event organisers (with many prestigious races choosing to do so). Any competitor in these races could be tested at the competition, and it is typical that at least the podium and a handful of other randomly chosen finishers are tested. Testing will involve a urine sample (with a chaperone watching to confirm the urine has come from the athlete) and sometimes a blood test as well. Athletes will also have to fill out a declaration form where they detail all medications and supplements they are taking. All samples are split into an “A” and a “B” sample – if a banned substance is detected in an A sample, then the B sample can be tested to confirm the result.
If athletes are on WADA’s out of competition testing list, then they could be tested randomly at any time and must provide WADA with a potential testing window every day, where their whereabouts are known (early morning is a typical window athletes give, as they know they’ll be in bed or just waking up). Failure to show up for a random drug test three times counts as an infringement, and incurs a penalty.
Athletes should be mindful of all medications they are taking, and know whether they are either banned in or out of competition. A full list can be found on the WADA website (https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list). The Global DRO (https://www.globaldro.com/) is an easy way for anyone to check the status of any medications they plan to take. WADA updates its list of banned substances every year, so athletes taking any medications should be checking regularly if the status of any of their medications has changed. If a doctor has prescribed a substance on this list, the first step is to discuss with them if there are any alternate medications that aren’t banned but would be just as effective. If not, then the athlete may be eligible for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) – this can be a time-consuming procedure, so, if necessary, should be investigated well in advance of any important competitions.
It is not as simple as all substances either always being banned or always being allowed – the timing, dosage, and form of administration is important for many substances. Different rules may also apply for in versus out of competition and these rules can all be checked on the WADA website and the Global DRO. “In competition” is usually defined as starting at 11:59pm the night before competition, though this can vary as should be checked if relevant. This does not mean this is the final opportunity for an athlete to take the substance – it means the substance must be fully out of their system (or at the allowed levels) by this time.
There are some medications, such as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) – e.g., ibuprofen – that are not banned by WADA, but are still banned in competition in some trail and ultramarathon events (e.g., UTMB has previously banned the use of NSAIDs). Even if a substance is not banned, the risks of taking any medications in events should be considered (e.g., NSAIDs greatly increase the risk of kidney damage during ultramarathons).
Supplements pose a major risk to athletes as they may contain banned substances. All supplement ingredients should be checked against the WADA banned list. However, supplements may still contain other substances that have either intentionally been left off the label, or through contamination. There are independent companies, such as HASTA or Informed Sport, that perform batch testing on supplements, and if a product has been tested then it will be advertised on the label (this is only a small portion of the supplement market, as it is an added expense). A food-first approach is generally recommended to minimise supplement usage and hence minimise risk.
As coaches, we should educate athletes about anti-doping policies, and encourage best practices. Athletes may ask you for advice on supplements and/or medications, so it is important to know where to guide them to make informed decisions. Many national governing bodies offer further coach (and athlete) education around anti-doping – e.g., https://elearning.sportintegrity.gov.au/ run by Sport Integrity Australia – and all elite level athletes and coaches should consider completing these courses.
Hopefully, you never have to deal with an athlete you coach being issued a doping ban. However, if you do, then you must be mindful of WADA’s prohibited association rules. If someone is serving a ban and you associate with them in a “professional or sport-related capacity” then you will be at risk of violating this rule. Social interactions are still allowed (if you choose to do so), but even if you believe an athlete is innocent (or their offence was an accident), continuing to work professionally with this athlete (while they are serving their ban) would put you, and all other athletes you work with, at risk. This also applies to any other non-athletes (e.g., athlete support personnel, doctors, coaches, etc.) who are serving doping bans.
Key take-aways
- Ignorance is not an excuse
- Athletes may be tested at high level competitions, or out of competitions if they are on WADA’s testing list
- Check all medications on Global DRO – https://www.globaldro.com/ – and seek a TUE if necessary
- Supplements may also contained banned substances (which can be either on or off the nutritional label)
- Follow prohibited association rules and do not interact professionally with anyone serving a doping ban