The World Anti-Doping Code defines doping as the occurrence of one or more of the Anti-Doping Rule Violations outlined in the Code. ‘Doping’ is more than simply using a prohibited substance or prohibited method. Currently, there are eleven (11) Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
Athletes (and other individuals) are responsible for knowing what constitutes an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and the substances and methods which have been included on WADA’s Prohibited List.
The following constitutes an Anti-Doping Rule Violation:
- Presence of a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) in an athlete’s sample.
- Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or prohibited method.
- Evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection.
- Whereabouts failures (Any combination of three ‘Filing Failures’ and/or ‘Missed Tests’ in a 12-month period).
- Tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control.
- Possession of prohibited substance or prohibited method.
- Trafficking or attempted trafficking in any prohibited substance or prohibited method.
- Administration or attempted administration to an athlete of any prohibited substance or prohibited method.
- Complicity or attempted complicity.
- Prohibited Association.
- Acts by an athlete or other person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities.
ANTI-DOPING SANCTIONS
A sanction is imposed by the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel once an Anti-Doping Rule Violation has been determined.
Length of Sanctions
Sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations may range from a public reprimand to a lifetime ban. The period of ineligibility may vary depending on but not limited to the following:
Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
- The circumstance of an individual case, that is, the person’s degree of fault or negligence, and/or the seriousness of the violation.
- The substance and whether or not it is the first time the offence is being committed.
- Aggravating Circumstances.
- Results Management Agreements.
- Multiple Violations.
- Presence of prohibited substance/banned substance, its metabolites or markers in a sample: a reprimand and no period of ineligibility to maximum 4 years ineligibility from sport
- Possession of banned substances or method: a reprimand and no period of ineligibility to a maximum of 4 years ineligibility from sport
- Use or attempted use of prohibited substances or methods: a reprimand and no period of ineligibility to a maximum of 4 years ineligibility from sport
- Whereabouts: 1 to 2 years ineligibility from sport
- Evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection: a reprimand and no period of ineligibility to 4 years ineligibility from sport
- Tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control process: a reprimand and no period of ineligibility to 4 years ineligibility from sport
- Trafficking or attempted trafficking: a minimum of 4 years ineligibility from sport up to a lifetime ban
- Administration or attempted administration: a minimum of 4 years ineligibility from sport up to a lifetime ban
- Complicity or Attempted Complicity (assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up an Anti-Doping Rule Violation): a minimum of 2 years up to lifetime ineligibility
- Prohibited Association: 1 to 2 years ineligibility from sport
- Acts by an athlete or other person to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities: a minimum of 2 years to lifetime ineligibility
CONSEQUENCES
The most common penalty for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation is a sanction imposing a period of ineligibility to participate in sport.
In addition to a period of ineligibility, there may be other consequences of committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Such as:
- Automatic disqualification of individual results, including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes
- Disqualification of results in the event during which a violation occurs
- Disqualification of results in competitions subsequent to the initial test sample
- Ineligibility to compete in the next Olympic or Paralympic Games
Consequences for Team Sport
If more than two members of a team in a Team Sport are found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation during an event period, the ruling body of the event shall impose an appropriate sanction on the team (e.g., loss of points, disqualification from a competition or event, or other sanction) in addition to any consequences imposed upon the individual athletes committing the Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
