We are dedicated to promoting clean sport and maintaining the integrity of fair play.

Doping is not just a positive test showing the presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s urine sample. Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations and (ADRVs) outlined in the World Anti-Doping Code and ISTAF Anti-Doping Rules. 

1.Presence of a prohibited substance, its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample

2.Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete

3.Refusing, evading or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete

4.Failure to file whereabouts information and/or missed tests by an athlete 

5.Tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control process by an athlete or other person

6.Possession of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete or athlete support personnel

7.Trafficking or attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance or method by an athlete or other person

8.Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete

9.Complicity or attempted complicity in an ADRV by an athlete or other person

10.Prohibited Association by an athlete or other person with a sanctioned athlete support personnel

11.Acts to discourage or retaliate against reporting to authorities

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.

• The principle of strict liability applies to all athletes who compete in any sport with an anti-doping program. It means that athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance, or its metabolites or markers found to be present in their urine and/or blood sample collected during doping control, regardless of whether the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or method. Therefore, it is important to remember that it is each and every athlete’s ultimate responsibility to know what enters their body.

• The rule which provides that principle, under Code Article 2.1 and Article 2.2, states that it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated by the Anti-Doping Organization to establish an anti-doping rule violation.

Doping can result in severe health consequences but also comes with sport, social, financial and legal consequences. For an athlete, doping could spell the end of their sporting career, reputation, and prospects both in and out of sport.

Athletes, their support personnel and others who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). Part Three of the Code outlines all of the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the anti-doping system.

Ensuring that athletes are aware of their rights and that these rights are respected is vital to the success of clean sport. WADA’s Athlete Committee (now Athlete Council) drafted the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act (Act). 

This Act is made up of two parts. 

Part one sets out rights that are found in the Code and International Standards. 

Part two sets out recommended athlete rights that are not found in the Code or International Standards but are rights that athletes recommend that Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) adopt for best practice.

Athlete rights outlined in the Code include:

• Equal opportunities in their pursuit of sport, free of participation by other athletes who dope

• Equitable and fair testing programs

• A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application process

• To be heard, to have a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a fair, impartial and operationally independent hearing panel, with a timely reasoned decision specifically including an explanation of the reasons of the decision
• Right to appeal the hearing decision

• Any ADO that has jurisdiction over them will be accountable for its action and an athlete shall have the ability to report any compliance issue

• Ability to report Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) through an anonymous mechanism and not be subjected to threats or intimidation
• Receiving anti-doping education

• Fair handling of their personal information by ADOs in accordance with the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI) and any local applicable law

• To pursue damages from another athlete whose actions have damaged that athlete by the commission of an ADRV

During the sample collection process, right to:

1. See the identification of the Doping Control Officer (DCO)
2. Request additional information about the sample collection process, about the authority under which it will be carried out and on the type of sample collection
3. Hydrate
4. Be accompanied by a representative and, if available, an interpreter
5. Request a delay in reporting to the doping control station for valid reasons (International Standard for Testing and Investigations Art. 5.4.4)
6. Request modifications for athletes with impairments (if applicable)
7. Be informed of their rights and responsibilities
8. Receive a copy of the records of the process
9. Have further protections for "protected persons” because of their age or lack of legal capacity
10. Request and attend the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding)

Athletes’ rights to clean sport come with corresponding responsibilities, and athletes may be tested in-and out-of-competition, anytime, anywhere and with no advance notice. Their clean sport responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Complying with the ADO’s Anti-Doping Rules [and relevant policies if applicable] (in line with the World Anti-Doping Code)

• Being available for sample collection (urine, blood or dried blood spot (DBS)), whether in- competition or out-of-competition

• Remaining within direct observation of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone at all times from notification until the completion of the sample collection process

• Providing identification upon request during the sample collection process

• Ensuring that no prohibited substance enters their body and that no prohibited method is used on them

• Ensuring that any treatment is not prohibited according to the Prohibited List in force and checking this with the prescribing physicians, or directly with the ADO if necessary

• Applying to the relevant ADO if no alternative permitted treatment is possible and a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required 

• Reporting immediately for sample collection after being notified of being selected for doping control

• Ensuring the accuracy of the information entered on the Doping Control Form (DCF)

• Cooperating with ADOs investigating ADRVs

• 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) 

Athlete support personnel and other persons also have rights and responsibilities under the Code.

These include:

• Right to a fair hearing, before an independent hearing panel

• Right to appeal the hearing decision

• Rights regarding data protection, according to the ISPPPI and any local applicable law

Athlete support personnel’s responsibilities under the Code include:

• Using their influence on athlete values and behaviors to foster clean sport behaviors

• Knowing and complying with all applicable anti-doping policies and rules, including the ADO’s Anti-Doping Rules [and relevant policies if applicable] (in line with the Code)

• Cooperating with the athlete doping control program

• Cooperating with ADOs investigating Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)

• Informing the relevant IF and/or NADO if they have committed an ADRV in the last 10 years

• 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). 

* 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.

Here  are some ways Athlete Support Personnel can support their athletes in their education on clean sport:

• Share the Athlete’s Anti-Doping Rights Act with your athletes

• Register and take a course suitable to you on the WADA’s ADEL platform 

• Follow the ISTAF pages on Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram where the main updates about anti-doping will be published

• Contact admin@sepaktakraw.org for any questions you may have