Anti-Doping

Athlete Rights

One of the purposes of the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Program is to protect the athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote and protect health, fairness and equal opportunity for athletes worldwide.

Making sure that athletes have rights, that they are aware of these rights, and can exercise those rights is vital to the success of clean sport. Athlete rights exist throughout the Code and International Standards.

Athlete rights at all times:

  • Equality of opportunity
  • Equitable and Fair Testing programs
  • Medical treatment and protection of health rights
  • Right to justice
  • Right to accountability
  • Whistleblower 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

 

Athlete rights during sample collection:

  • Have a representative accompany the athlete during the process
  • Request an interpreter, if one is available
  • Ask for Chaperone’s/Doping Control Officer’s identification
  • Ask any questions
  • Request a delay for a valid reason
  • Request special assistance or modifications to the process
  • Record any comments or concerns on the Doping Control Form

 

Some of the valid reasons to delay testing include:

  • Attending a victory ceremony
  • Finishing a training session or competing in further events
  • Receiving necessary medical attention
  • Fulfilling a media commitment
  • Warming down and hydrating

 

For more information on athletes’ rights, we encourage you to consult the WADA Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act. To learn more about the doping control process, you can watch an ITA webinar on urine and blood sample collection.

 

Athlete Responsibilities

It is equally important that athletes are aware of their anti-doping responsibilities. Coaches, physiotherapists, parents and other members of athlete support personnel should also familiarize themselves with these responsibilities and help their athletes fulfill them.

Athlete responsibilities at all times:

  • Do not work with coaches, trainers, physicians or other athlete support personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV or who have been criminally convicted or disciplined in relation to doping (see WADA’s Prohibited Association List

Rights and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel and other groups

Like athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and others under the jurisdiction of FITEQ also have rights and responsibilities as per the Code. These include:

  • Being knowledgeable of anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you or the athlete(s) you support
  • Using your influence on athlete values and behaviours to foster anti-doping attitudes
  • Complying with all anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you and the athlete(s) you support
  • Cooperating with the athlete testing program
  • Disclosing to FITEQ and their NADO whether you have committed any Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) within the previous ten years
  • Cooperating with anti-doping organisations investigating ADRVs

Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.2 and 21.3.