Introduction 

IWAS, together with the International Federations, our national member organisations and the IPC, have established the IWAS Anti-Doping Code to encourage the prevention of doping in sport for athletes with a disability.  This has been achieved in conformity with the general principles of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the purposes of which are fully endorsed by IWAS:

  •   To protect an athlete’s fundamental right to participate in a doping free environment in sport and thus promote good health, justice and equality for athletes world-wide
  •  To ensure harmonious, co-ordinated and effective anti-doping programmes throughout an athlete’s competitive pathway with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping

New IWAS Anti-Doping Code 2009

As a WADA stakeholder, IWAS had to review its own Anti-Doping Code to be WADC compliant for 2009.  Documentation has been revised accordingly and provided to the membership in August 2009 for final ratification at the IWAS General Assembly November, 2009.  Meanwhile, in the interests of communication and coordination, the new version and associated and up-dated documentation are included in the IWAS website for easy access.

The new IWAS Anti-Doping Code reflects the changes made to the WADC, which include an athlete’s right to promptly request the analysis of the B sample, following notification of the initial review process outcome.

It is IWAS’ responsibility to ensure that all national member organisations are also in compliance with the WADC and adopt and implement anti-doping policies and rules for their events which conform to the IWAS Anti-Doping Code.

Anti-Doping – Definition

Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) described in the IWAS Anti-Doping Code and include:
 

  •  The presence of prohibited substance in an athlete’s bodily specimen (as per WADA Prohibited List)
  •  Use, or attempted use, of a prohibited substance or prohibited method
  •  Refusing or failing to submit to sample collections after notification
  •  Violation of the requirements regarding athlete availability for out-of-competition testing
  •  Tampering with any part of the doping control process
  •  Possession of prohibited substances and using prohibited methods
  •  Trafficking in any prohibited substance or method
  •  Administration, or attempted administration, of a prohibited substance or method to an athlete, or assisting,  encouraging, aiding, abetting, concealing or any other type of complicity involving an anti-doping rule  violation or attempted violation

 
Anti-Doping Code Application

Anti-Doping Rules are part of the Competition rules of sport and they also govern the conditions under which sport is played.  All participants (athlete and athlete support personnel) accept these rules as a condition of participation and are presumed to have agreed to comply with the IWAS Anti-Doping Code.

The WADC Prohibited List, which defines the prohibited substances and methods and effectively the ADRVs, is reviewed and updated from time to time by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).  In recognition of the fact that there may be cases where athletes should be allowed to use prohibited substances on the list for therapeutic purposes, exemptions may be sought through the TUE application process.  This is subject to justification that the medication is clinically appropriate and does not offer the athlete an advantage.  This process is sport- and case-specific.  Detail on where to seek Therapeutic Use Exemption can be found on the relevant IF, IPC, and IWAS Anti-Doping Web Pages.

There is as much need for doping control in sport for athletes with a disability as there is in able-bodied sport as our sports continue to grow and gain in prestige.  The temptation therefore to enhance performance through the use of prohibited substances may well also increase.  It is the objective of IWAS and its paralympic partners that national testing of athletes be integrated into national programmes.  IWAS continues to contract with Organisers of our events, including the IWAS World and World Junior Games and sport specific Championships, World Cups, Series, as well as events sanctioned by IWAS, to coordinate testing.

Major Changes in Anti-Doping Rules effective from 2009

IWAS seeks to highlight the major changes from our previous Anti-Doping Code:

Analysis of the B-Sample

IWAS has harmonized its procedure for B-sample analysis to be compliant with the WADC provisions.  The process of internal appeal is replaced by an Athlete’s right to promptly request the analysis of the B-Sample following notification of the initial review process, or, failing such request, that the B-sample analysis may be deemed waived.

Flexibility in Sanctions

Overall, revisions made in the new Code introduce a wider flexibility in the application of sanctions.  Reduced sanctions are possible if an athlete can prove that the prohibited substance found in his/her body was not intended to enhance performance.

Conversely, the revised Code provides for an increase in sanctions in doping cases involving aggravating circumstances.  While for the former Code allowed for a four-year ban for a first Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) only in cases of trafficking or administration of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method, the revised Code thus broadens the spectrum of ADRVs that can lead to a four-year ban for a first serious doping offence.

Specified Substances

All Prohibited Substances, except substances in the classes of anabolic agents, hormones and those stimulants and hormone antagonists and modulators so identified, shall be “Specified Substances” for the purpose of more flexible sanctions.

Atypical Findings

Laboratories are directed to report the presence of a prohibited substance, which may also be produced endogenously, as an Atypical Finding (ATF), which is now subject to further investigation.  The process of Initial Review will be initiated, and the athlete will be notified whether or not the ATF will be brought forward as an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), and subsequently potential Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).

Strict liability has been maintained in the revised Code.  Strict liability means that each athlete is strictly liable for the substance found in his or her bodily specimen, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in a bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

The education of athletes, coaches and medical professionals is critical to the success of any anti-doping programme.  Below are a variety of resources to assist all in understanding the procedures of doping control and the implications of doping in sport.

WADA Quiz – Test your knowledge of anti-doping
WADA Doping Control Flyer (English)
WADA Doping Control Flyer (French)
WADA Doping Control Flyer (Spanish)
WADA Video “Levelling the Playing Field”
WADA Athlete Guide