ABOUT ANTI-DOPING & CLEAN SPORT


Because of the strongly held belief that our sport must be kept clean of those practices that could destroy the sense of what athletes do and their integrity, the IFSC committed itself to the fight against doping from the very beginning. It works in close relationship with the guidelines provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  • January 27, 2007, the IFSC founding Plenary Assembly unanimously accepted the WADA Anti-Doping Code.
  • September 2008, the former IFSC Management Committee approved the WADA 2009 Code. This was replaced by the WADA 2015 code on 1 January 2015.
  • December 2010, the IFSC adopted the 2011 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules.
  • December 2014, the IFSC adopted the 2015 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules.
  • November 2020, the IFSC adopted the 2021 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules.

Rationale

The IFSC is committed to the eradication of doping from sport and to protecting clean athletes. Doping can be harmful to the athletes’ health, damages the integrity of sport, and is morally and ethically wrong. All athletes participating in IFSC competitions must abide by the IFSC Anti-Doping Rules. The latest IFSC Anti-Doping Rules were adopted in November 2020 and came into effect on 1 January 2021.

Since its creation the IFSC has been collaborating with  the International Testing Authority ,to which it has recently delegated the execution of some elements of the Anti-Doping Program.

What is Doping?

Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) according to article 2 of the WADA Code:

  1. Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample;
  2. Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method;
  3. Evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete;
  4. Whereabouts failures by an athlete;
  5. Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control by an athlete or Athlete Support Person;
  6. Possession of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method by an athlete or Athlete Support Person;
  7. Trafficking or attempted trafficking in any prohibited substance or prohibited method by an athlete or Athlete Support Person;
  8. Administration or attempted administration by an athlete or Athlete Support Person to any athlete in-competition of any prohibited substance or prohibited method, or administration or attempted administration to any athlete out-of-competition of any prohibited substance or any prohibited method that is prohibited out-of-competition;
  9. Complicity or attempted complicity by an athlete or Athlete Support Person;
  10. Prohibited Association by an athlete or Athlete Support Person; and
  11. Acts by an athlete or Athlete Support Person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities.

Why is Doping in Sport Prohibited?

The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is fundamentally wrong and is detrimental to the overall spirit of sport. Drug misuse can be harmful to an athlete's health and to other athletes competing in the sport. It severely damages the integrity, image and value of sport, whether or not the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance. To achieve integrity and fairness in sport, a commitment to clean sport is critical.

What do Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel Need to Know About Anti-Doping?

"Every athlete has the right to clean sport!"

ANY ATHLETE MAY BE TESTED IN AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION, ANY TIME, ANYWHERE, AND WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE.

The principle of strict liability applies in Anti-Doping - if it is in the athlete's body, the athlete is responsible for it.

ATHLETES' RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):

  • complying with the 2021 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules (in line with the World Anti-Doping Code);
  • being available for sample collection (urine or blood), whether in-competition or out-of-competition;
  • ensuring that no prohibited substance enters their body and that no prohibited method is used;
  • making sure that any treatment is not prohibited according to the Prohibited List in force and checking this with the prescribing physicians, or directly with the IFSC if necessary;
  • applying to the IFSC (or national Anti-Doping organisation if the athlete is at a national level) if no alternative permitted treatment is possible and a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required (see the IFSC TUE application process);
  • reporting immediately for sample collection after being notified of a doping control;
  • ensuring the accuracy of the information entered on the doping control form during sample collection (including stating any medications and supplements taken within the seven days prior to sample collection, and where the sample collected is a blood sample, blood transfusions within the previous three months);
  • cooperating with anti-doping organisations investigating anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs); and
  • not working with coaches, trainers, physicians, or other athlete support personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV, or who have been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping (see WADA's Prohibited Association List).

Note: during doping control, the athlete must remain within direct observation of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone at all times, from when the initial contact is made until the completion of the sample collection procedure. The athlete must also produce identification upon request.

ATHLETES' RIGHTS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):

  • during the doping control:

- bringing a representative and, if available, an interpreter;

- asking for additional information about the sample collection process;

- requesting a delay in reporting to the doping control station for valid reasons (International Standard for Testing and Investigations Art. 5.4.4); and

- requesting modifications for athletes with impairments (if applicable).

  • requesting and attending the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding); and
  • in the case of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) being asserted, the athlete has the right to a fair hearing and to appeal the hearing decision.
  • rights regarding data protection, according to ISPPPI and any local law applicable.

Coaches, trainers, managers, agents, and other support personnel have a role in defending clean sport and supporting athletes in the anti-doping processes.

ATHLETE SUPPORT PERSONNELS’ OBLIGATIONS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):

  • knowing and complying with all applicable anti-doping policies and rules, including the 2021 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules (in line with the World Anti-Doping Code); and
  • refraining from possessing a prohibited substance (or a prohibited method)*, administering any such substance or method to an athlete, trafficking, covering up an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) or other forms of complicity, and associating with a person convicted of doping (prohibited association). These are ADRVs applicable to Athlete Support Personnel under Article 2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 2 of the 2021 IFSC Anti-Doping Rules.

*unless the Athlete Support Personnel can establish that the possession is consistent with a TUE granted to an athlete or other acceptable justification. Acceptable justification would include, for example, a team doctor carrying Prohibited Substances for dealing with acute and emergency situations.

ATHLETE SUPPORT PERSONNELS' RIGHTS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):

  • In the case of an ADRV being asserted, the Athlete Support Personnel has the right to a fair hearing and the right to appeal the hearing decision.
  • Rights regarding data protection, according to ISPPPI and any local law applicable.

What is WADA and What is its Role?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an independent international agency and is composed and funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world. Its key activities include in particular scientific research, education, development of anti-doping capacities, investigations and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code and its application by Code signatories (International Federations, National Anti-Doping Organisations, Major Event Organizations, etc.).

For more information about WADA, consult:

What is the Role of the International Federation (IF)?

Anti-doping activities required of IFs by the World Anti-Doping Code include conducting in-competition and out-of-competition testing, providing education programmes, and sanctioning those who commit anti-doping rule violations.

What is the Role of the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs)?

NADOs are organisations designated by each country as possessing the primary authority and responsibility to adopt and implement national anti-doping rules, carry out anti-doping education, plan tests, and adjudicate anti-doping rule violations at a national level. They may also test athletes from other countries competing within that nation’s borders.

Check the list of NADOs to find out who to contact in your country.

If a NADO has not been designated in a country, the National Olympic Committee (NOC), if there is no NADO, takes over these responsibilities. In a number of regions of the world, countries have pooled their resources together to create a Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) responsible for conducting anti-doping activities in the region in support of NADOs.

Check the list of RADOs.

RADOs bring together geographically-clustered groups of countries where there are limited or no anti-doping activities. The RADOs provide anti-doping education for athletes, coaches, and support personnel, testing of athletes, training of local personnel to undertake this task, and an administrative framework to operate within. 

© 2019 ifsc-climbing.org    All Rights Reserved