Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other groups who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code. Part Three of the Code outlines these for each stakeholder in the anti-doping system.
It is extremely important that athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand Code Art. 21 (Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes and Other Persons), particularly Art. 21.1 (Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes), Art. 21.2 (Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel) and Art. 21.3 (Roles and Responsibilities of Other Persons Subject to the Code).
The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act sets out the rights and responsibilities for all athletes. Ensuring that athletes are aware of their rights and that they are respected is vital to the success of clean sport. Athlete rights exist throughout the Code and International Standards.
They include:
- Equality of opportunity
- Equitable and Fair Testing programs
- Medical treatment and protection of health rights
- Right to justice
- Right to accountability
- Whistle-blower rights
- Right to education
- Right to data protection
- Rights to compensation
- Protected Persons Rights
- Rights during a Sample Collection Session
- Right to B sample analysis
- Other rights and freedoms not affected
- Application and standing
For more information, you can refer directly to the document here: Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act.
It is equally important that athletes are aware of their anti-doping responsibilities. Athlete Support Personnel should also familiarise themselves with these in order to be able to support their athletes.
These include:
- Taking full responsibility for what you ingest – make sure that no prohibited substance enters your body and that no prohibited methods are used.
- Informing medical personnel of your obligations as an athlete.
- Cooperating with the National Anti-Doping Organisation of your country and other ADO’s (WADA, Caribbean RADO, ITA)
- Being available for sample collection
- Not working with coaches, trainers, physicians or other Athlete Support Personnel who are ineligible on account of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV), or those who have been criminally convicted or disciplined in relation to doping (see WADA’s Prohibited List).
- Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.1.
- Knowing and following your country’s Anti-Doping Rules and any other applicable Anti-Doping Rules.
- Athletes also have specific rights and responsibilities during the Doping Control Process. Please refer to this section here for more information on this.