Overview of Therapeutic Use

What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption?

Athletes who have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medication, must be aware that those substances or methods may be listed on the WADA Prohibited List*. These athletes with a documented medical condition requiring the use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method must first obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

*The Prohibited List identifies substances and methods that are banned either in-competition only or in-and out-of-competition. These substances include, but are not limited to, stimulants, anabolic agents, and masking agents. Athletes should always be aware that a substance may not be directly named on the List, but may still be banned because it falls into the category based on similarities in properties or structure.

A TUE should be given if:

    * The athlete would experience significant health problems without taking the prohibited substance or method,
    * The therapeutic use of the substance would not produce significant enhancement of performance, and
    * There is no reasonable therapeutic alternative to the use of the otherwise prohibited substance or method.

If an athlete is taking a beta-2 agonist by inhalation [ i.e. asthma inhalers: formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline ], and glucocorticosteroids by non-systemic routes, there is a shorter form and process for granting a TUE (Abbreviated Therapeutic Exemption - ATUE).

Exemption information is below, 

TUE information for national orgs and athletes

Standard TUE Form

Abbreviated TUE Form

Reminder that forms should be completed and returned to the IFSC office at:

IFSC
Corso Ferrucci 122, 10141, Torino, Italy

Fax: +39 011 412 17 73

Since the beginning of 2010, the IFSC cooperates for all TUE issues with Prof. Thomas Kupper, who has been nominated IFSC TUE Officer.

Thomas Küpper, Assoc. Prof., MD, PhD
Specialist for Sports Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Mountain Medicine (UIAA), Aviation Medicine, Travelmedicine
IFSC TUE Officer
Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen / Germany