ANTI-DOPING RULES
Anti-doping rules
FIPFA has adopted Anti-Doping Rules that comply with the World Anti-Doping Code.
These apply to a number of persons, but the most important groups are:
- Players
- Player Support Persons – these include coaches, trainers, managers, agents, team staff, officials, medical, paramedical personnel and parents.
All players and player support persons MUST be knowledgeable of and comply with all anti-doping policies and rules adopted pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Code and which are applicable to them or the players whom they support.
FIPFA’s Anti-doping rules
The Strict Liability
The World Anti-Doping Code says that players must take responsibility, in the context of anti-doping, for what they ingest and use. It provides that it is each player’s personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters their bodies. Players are responsible for any Prohibited Substance found to be present in their Samples – it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the player’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping rule violation.
This is the core principle of ‘strict liability’.
For players:
- It is your personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters your body.
- It does not matter if a banned substance entered your system by mistake
- It does not matter if you did not mean to use a banned substance
- It does not matter if you did not know that you had used a banned substance
- It does not matter if you relied on your medical advisor, parent or carer. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
If a player or player support person does something that is contrary to the Anti-Doping Rules, this can result in an ‘Anti-Doping Rule Violation’. There are currently 11 different types of Anti-Doping Rule Violation listed in the World Anti-Doping Code.
These are:
Presence of Prohibited Substance | Arises when there is a positive test |
Use of Prohibited Substance | Arises when there is evidence that a player has used a banned substance or banned method |
Evading, Refusing or Failing to Comply with Sample Collection | Arises if a player tries to avoid being tested, refuses to be tested, or does not cooperate with the testing process |
Whereabouts Violation | Arises if a player does not provide accurate whereabouts information so the player can be located for testing |
Tampering | Arises if a player or player support person interferes with and undermines any part of the testing and related processes |
Possession | Arises if a player or player support person has in their possession a banned substance or banned method materials |
Trafficking | Arises if a player or player support person provides a banned substance or banned method materials to someone else |
Administration | Arises if a player or player support person administers a banned substance or banned method materials to someone else |
Complicity | Arises if a player or player support person assists in or helps cover up an anti-doping rule violation committed by someone else |
Prohibited Association | Arises if a player or player support person associates with a person who is serving a ban for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation |
Threats and Retaliation | Arises if a player or player support person threatens another person or retaliates against another person who has provided information about an Anti-Doping Rule Violation |
Consequences of Committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation
The World Anti-Doping Code sets the sanctions, or ‘Consequences’, that must be imposed if a player or support person commits an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. These are generally in the form of periods of Ineligibility, or ‘bans’, from all forms of sport.
These bans are typically in the range of two to four years, but can be longer depending on the violation, and for the most serious violations life bans can be imposed.
These are very robust sanctions. The World Anti-Doping Code explains that anti-doping programs seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world. The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including:
- Health
- Ethics, fair play and honesty
- Excellence in performance
- Character and Education
- Fun and joy
- Teamwork
- Dedication and commitment
- Respect for rules and laws
- Respect for self and other Participants
- Courage
- Community and solidarity
Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport and these values.
World Anti-Doping Code
The revised 2021 World Anti-Doping Code is effective as of 1 January 2021.
Read the full document here: