Anti-Doping Rule Violations

Any one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations are considered doping. There are 11 potential anti-doping regulation infractions under the World Anti-Doping Code.

1 – Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample

  1. It is the individual obligation of every athlete to make sure that their body is not exposed to any prohibited  substances. Any banned substance discovered in an athlete’s sample belongs to the athlete. (At this point, fault, purpose, and negligence are not really relevant.)
  2. Athletes have full responsibility for any substances found in their sample.
  3. The presence of a prohibited substance is enough to establish an anti-doping rule violation.

Read more in Article 2.1


2 – Use of Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method

  1. Athletes have the personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substances or methods are used.
  2. To establish a violation of anti-doping rules, it is not necessary to prove the athlete had intent, fault, negligence, or was aware of the use.
  3. The success or failure of using or attempting to use a prohibited substance or method does not affect the violation status.
  4. Merely using or attempting to use a prohibited substance or method is sufficient for a doping rule violation to be considered committed.

For more information, visit Article 2.2.


3. Evading, Refusing, or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete

  1. avoiding sample collection, or failing to comply with sample collection after being notified by a properly authorized person without a compelling explanation.

Visit Article 2.3 for more information.


4. Whereabouts Failures by an Athlete

  1. Any three missed tests plus/or filing errors, as specified by the International Standard for Results Management, by an athlete participating in a registered testing pool during a 12-month period.

Read Article 2.4


5. Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any Part of Doping Control by and Athlete or Other Person

  1. Sanctions may follow any effort to interfere in any manner with the Results Management procedure.
  2. The following are examples of tampering: purposefully undermining or seeking to undermine the authority of a doping control official, giving false information to an anti-doping agency, threatening or seeking to frighten a possible witness.

6. Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Athlete Support Person

  • Athlete possession rules:
  1. Athletes are prohibited from possessing any banned substances or methods in-competition.
  2. Out-of-competition, athletes are also prohibited from possessing any substance or method banned during that period.
  3. Athletes must demonstrate that any possession is justified by a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) or another acceptable reason under Article 4.4 to avoid a violation.
  • Athlete Support Persons
  1. Athlete support persons are prohibited from possessing any banned substances or methods in-competition.
  2. Out-of-competition, possession by athlete support persons is also restricted if related to an athlete, competition, or training.
  3. Similar to athletes, support persons must prove their possession aligns with a TUE granted to an athlete or provide another valid justification under Article 4.4.

Read more in Article 2.6 of the WADA code.


7. Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method by an Athlete or Other Person.

  1. Involvement in the trafficking of prohibited substances or methods can result in sanctions for athletes, support personnel, and non-participants. Providing drugs to individuals who are not athletes is also included.

8. Administration or Attempted Administration by an Athlete or Other Person

  1. We have the authority to penalize an athlete, support person, or non-participant who uses or attempts to use any forbidden method or substance on an athlete. They won’t be able to participate in sports or interact with athletes because of this.
  2. An instance of a potential “Administration” anti-doping regulation infraction may be the following:

    i. distributes, oversees, encourages, or otherwise takes part in an athlete’s use of an illegal substance or technique.

9. Complicity or Attempted Complicity by an Athlete or Other Person

  1. assistance, encouragement, aiding, abetting, plotting, disguising, or any other kind of deliberate complicity or attempted complicity involving a breach of the anti-doping rule, an attempted breach of the anti-doping rule, or a breach of Article 10.14.1 by another Person.

For more information, visit Article 2.9.


10. Prohibited Association by an Athlete or Other Person

  1. Athletes and other persons under the authority of an Anti-Doping Organization are prohibited from associating in a professional or sport-related capacity with any Athlete Support Person who:
  1. Is currently serving a period of ineligibility due to doping violations.
  2. Is not under anti-doping authority but has been found guilty in criminal, disciplinary, or professional proceedings of actions that would constitute a doping violation under the Code. Their disqualifying status lasts for the longer of six years from the decision or the duration of the sanction imposed.
  3. Acts as a front or intermediary for an individual described in the above points.

B. To confirm a violation of Article 2.10, it must be established that the athlete or other person knew of the Athlete Support Person’s disqualifying status.

To learn more, read Article 2.10 in the code.


11. Acts by an athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities

  1. It is forbidden to threaten or intimidate any person with the intent to discourage them from reporting in good faith any information related to a suspected anti-doping rule violation
  2. Retaliation against any person who has provided evidence or information in good faith regarding an alleged anti-doping violation or alleged non-compliance with the Code to WADA, an Anti-Doping Organization, law enforcement, regulatory or professional disciplinary body, hearing body, or person conducting an investigation for WADA or an Anti-Doping Organization is strictly prohibited.

Visit Article 2.11 for more information.

BACK TO KEY AREAS

Key Areas Quick Bar