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Anti-Doping in Northern Ireland
Sport Northern Ireland is committed to drug-free sport and is working with UK Sport and the Irish Sports Council to ensure that athletes and their support personnel in Northern
Ireland are aware of Anti-Doping issues.
The information below will hopefully answer a few of the common questions in the area of anti-doping or point you in the direction of where you can get more information.
Does my sport have Anti-Doping rules?
Each sport in NI adopts the rules of their Irish or UK NGB which are modelled on the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) rules.
This table shows which NADO your sport is linked to. Click on the appropriate logo for general information on the Anti-Doping rules governing your sport.
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International
Federation
(linked to UK Sport)
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Badminton Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Camogie
Cricket Cycling
Equestrian
Gaelic Games
Golf
Handball
Hockey
Motor Cycling
Motor Sports
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Mountaineering
Racquetball
Rowing
Rugby Union
Squash
Surfing
Swimming Table Tennis
Tennis
Triathlon
Water Skiing |
Archery
Athletics
Canoeing
Equestrian
Fencing
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Judo
Karting
Motor Sports
Orienteering
Sailing
Shooting
Taekwondo
Weightlifting
Wrestling |
Dance Sport
Football
Karate
Netball
Tenpin Bowling
Tug of War
Volleyball |
Clicking on your sport will take you to your governing body's anti-doping web pages if available.
[* PLEASE NOTE* Sport Northern Ireland can not be held responsible for the content or accuracy of Anti-Doping information on external sites]
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Testing Procedures
Can I only be tested in a competition?
- Athletes who complete at international or national level may be tested anytime, anywhere. Specially trained and accredited doping control personnel carry out all tests.
- The World Anti-Doping Code states that National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) such as UK Sport and the Irish Sports Council must plan and implement an effective number of IN-COMPETITION and OUT-OF-COMPETITION tests on the athletes on their Registered Testing Pool (RTP).
- The NADO develop a test distribution plan and allocate the number of samples for each sport or discipline required for effective deterrence and detection: the plan includes both out- and in-competition testing and may include blood as well as urine collection.
What is the Registered Testing Pool (RTP)?
- A pool of top level athletes established separately by each International Federation(IF) and NADO who are subject to both in and out of competition testing. Each IF shall publish a list which identifies those athletes included in it's RTP either by name or by clearly defined, specific criteria.
Whats the difference between In-Competition and Out-of-Competition testing?
- In-Competition Testing: this usually means the period commencing 12 hours before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate through to the end of the competition and the sample collection process related to the competition.
The criteria for the selection of athletes is pre-determined, based on the regulations of the relevant International Federation or competition ruling body. Samples will usually be collected by the NADO of the country in which the competition takes place and will be analyzed for 'in-competition substances' as outlined in the Prohibited List.
- Out-of-competition Testing: this includes any testing outside of a competition and ensures that athletes can be tested at any time and any place.
What is whereabouts - what is the athlete's responsibility?
- An athlete identified in the RTP by his/her NADO is required to provide accurate and current whereabouts information. This information is required on a quarterly basis and includes details such as the athlete's home address, training venues and schedule, competition schedule as well as any other regular activities shuch as work or school.
- Additionally athletes identified in their NADO's RTP must provide a specific 60-minute period for each day when they will be accountable for a possible missed test should they not be present for testing during this time at the declared location.
- A comination of 3 missed tests and/or failures to file whereabouts information within an 18-month period may be consdiered a doping violation and may result in a sanction.
What are the requirements for athletes in team sports?
- Athletes who participate in a team sport and are in a RTP may also be subject to the same inidvidual whereabouts requirements as athletes who participate in an individual sport.
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What happens in a drugs test?
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Can I take any medication?
- WADA Code states strict liability - 'the athlete is responsible and strictly liable whenever a prohibited substance is found in their bodily specimen'.
- The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), updated annually by WADA, is the International Standard defining what is prohibited in- and out-of-competition. The List also indicates whether particular substances are banned in particular sports. The most current edition of the WADA Prohibited List is posted on WADA's website.
- Other information you should know -
- Athletes should always check with their NADO to find out what additional substances and methods are prohibited in their sport.
- You should always make your doctor aware that you are an athlete and are bound by the specific rules of your sport.
- Do not take a product if you are unsure of what it contains. Always remember the use of foreign medications is at the athlete's own risk. Don't assume that the brand names available abroad contain the same ingredients as those at home.
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You should not take a product until you are sure it is not prohibited.
Ignorance is never an excuse!
Check your medication online:
- There is also a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) process which gives the athlete a means of obtaining approval to use a prescribed Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition. Check out either UKS or ISC TUE application procedures for more details. (Click here to see which NADO relates to your sport)
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Can I take supplements?
- The use of all medication, supplements and herbal products is at an athlete's own risk.
- Be aware that supplements and herbal products can sometimes contain prohibited substances.
- Check out the UK Sport and Irish Sports Council supplement policies for further advice.
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Can I go to a workshop?
- If you would like to attend an Education Workshop or to requestan Anti-Doping workshop tailored specifically for your sport please email your request to antidoping@sportni.net.
- Please click here for a Calender of upcoming education sessions in NI.
- Contact antidoping@sportni.net if you would like an information leaflet.
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Who can I talk to?
If you cant find the answer to your questions here email your question to antidoping@sportni.net or contact Sport NI's dedicated Anti-Doping Education Officer
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I know it all already!
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The History of Anti Doping
What is the World Anti Doping Agency?
WADA is the international independant organisation created in 1999 to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all its forms.
It is composed and funded equally by the sports movement and governments of the world; and coordinated the development, and subsequent evolution, of the World Anti-Doping Code.
What is the World Anti-Doping Code?
The Code is the document that harmonizes regulations regarding anti-doping across all sports and all countries of the world. It provides the framework for anti-doping programmes and activities for sport organisations and public authorities so that all athletes have the benefit of the same anti-doping policies and procedures, no matter the sport, the nationality or the country where tested.
How was the code developed?
The Code was developed through an extensive consultation process among all stakeholders, including athletes, sports organisations, anti-doping organisations, laboratories, governments and many others. The Code was unanimously adopted by the Second World Conference on Doping in Sport in 2003, came into effect on January 1 2004, and was fully implemented by Olympic Sport Federations in time for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens. Revisions to the Code, following an 18 month consultation with stakeholders were unanimously adopted by the Third World Conference on Doping in Sport in 2007, to be effective as of January 1, 2009.
What rules or procedures has the Code put in place?
The Code clarifies the responsibilities of stakeholders in the fight against doping and brings harmonisation where rules or policies previously varied between different sports and countries. The Code operates in conjunction with five International Standards:
List of Prohibitied Substances and Methods (List);
Testing;
Therapeutic Use Exemptions;
Laboratories; and
Protection of Privacy and Personal Information
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