Clean Sport

Scottish Disability Sport Anti Doping Policy

Clean Sport

All athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean.

Scottish Disability Sport believes in clean sport and works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to ensure that the integrity of disability sport is protected.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of sport and undermines the integrity of clean athletes and players.

Anti-Doping Rules

Scottish Disability Sport has in place a set of anti-doping rules by which all athletes, players, coaches and support staff must abide. The anti-doping rules for Scottish Disability Sport are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (2015 Code), which governs anti-doping internationally.

The anti-doping rules of Scottish Disability Sport are the UK Anti-Doping Rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. Such rules shall take effect and be construed as the rules of Scottish Disability Sport.

You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules here.

If you are involved in disability sport at any level, these rules apply to you regardless of age, or whether you are competing, coaching or supporting athletes or players.

UKAD is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through the implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.

100% me – Supporting Athletes to be Clean

100% me is UK Anti-Doping’s education programme for athletes – designed to provide information resources, education sessions and general advice to athletes throughout their sporting careers.

Find out about 100% me in the dedicated Athlete Zone of the UKAD website.

What is Strict Liability?

All athletes and players need to be aware of the principle of strict liability. This means that all athletes and players are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat.

It is crucial that athletes and players check all medications are safe to take prior to use. Medications can be checked online via Global DRO.

Athletes and players must undertake thorough internet research of any supplement products before use – including the name of the product and the ingredients/substances listed. Information revealed as a result should be further investigated and we advise athletes and players to keep evidence of their search.

What are the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)?

The 2015 Code outlines ten Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).  Athletes, players and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP), may receive a ban from sport if any of the following ADRVs are committed:

  • Returning a positive test
  • Using, or attempting to use, a banned substance or method
  • Refusal or failure to provide a sample when requested
  • Tampering, or attempting to tamper, with any part of the testing process
  • Possession of a banned substance or method
  • Trafficking, or attempted trafficking, of any banned substance or method
  • Administering, or attempted administering, of a banned substance or method to an athlete; or encouragement, aiding and/or covering up of any involvement in an ADRV
  • Receiving any combination of three filing failures and/or missed tests in a time period of 12 months (for athletes who are part of the National Registered Testing Pool)
  • Complicity (new from 1 Jan 2015)
  • Prohibited Association (new from 1 Jan 2015)

All ten ADRVs apply to athletes and players. Only the ADRVs in bold apply to ASP.

What are the Consequences?

Under the 2015 Code, a minimum four-year ban from sport will apply to those who are found to be deliberately cheating and breaking the rules.

The 2015 Code has little sympathy for carelessness – for inadvertent doping, athletes are more likely to face a two-year ban from sport.

All athletes, players, coaches and athlete support personnel need to make sure they have sufficient anti-doping knowledge to avoid committing an ADRV and receiving a ban from sport.

Managing Inadvertent Doping Risks

The Prohibited List

All banned substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List, which is updated at the beginning of every calendar year, but may also be updated throughout the year. The latest Prohibited List can be found on the WADA website.

Understand the Importance of Checking Medications

Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter) athletes and players must check to make sure it does not contain any banned substances. Medications can be checked online at Global DRO . It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country.

Know the Risks with Nutritional Supplements

Athletes and players are strongly advised to be very cautious if they choose to take any supplement such as vitamin tablets, energy drinks, or sport-nutrition formulas. This is because there is no guarantee that any supplement is free from banned substances.

Before deciding to use supplements, all athletes and players are advised to:

  • assess the need to use supplements by seeking advice from a medical professional or nutritionist on their need to use supplement products
  • assess the risks associated with supplements and undertake thorough research of all supplement products they are considering taking
  • assess the consequences to their careers – they could receive a four-year ban.

However, supplement risks can be reduced by:

  • undertaking thorough internet research
  • only using batch-tested products
  • checking on Informed-Sport (which is a risk minimisation programme) that the supplement has been batch tested

Visit the UKAD website for further information including information on the Informed Sport programme, which provides a batch-testing service for supplement products.

Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

Athletes and players can obtain approval to use a prescribed banned substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition by applying for a TUE. They must be able to provide medical evidence to confirm their diagnosis and prescription, and reference that there are no reasonable alternative medications.

  • International-level athletes and players (as defined by their International Federation) need to apply to their International Federation for a TUE
  • Athletes and players competing at National level need to apply to UKAD for a TUE

TUEs approved by UKAD, unless stated otherwise, are valid at national level only. If an athlete or player is competing at international events, a UKAD TUE will not be valid unless it is first recognized by the relevant International Federation or Major Event Organisation. Athletes and players should notify the relevant body of this as soon as possible prior to competing.

Athletes and players listed under the ‘National’ category for their sport must apply for their TUE in advance. The ‘National’ category for TUEs is defined by UKAD by sport and can be found on UKAD’s website here. Only in an emergency situation or where there will be a severe impact on health should treatment begin without the necessary approval. Athletes and players not listed in the ‘National’ category would only need to apply for a TUE retroactively should they be tested and their sample return an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF).

You can find out more about whether you need a TUE and how to apply for one (including emergency TUEs) on the UKAD website.

Understand What Happens in a Test (Doping Control)

Athletes and players should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. When selected for testing, athletes and players should take a representative with them to the Doping Control Station.

A urine test will follow these main steps:

  • Notification
  • Reporting to Doping Control Station
  • Providing a sample
  • Recording and certifying sample information

UK Anti-Doping recommends that athletes and players follow their normal hydration routines if selected for testing.

Athletes and players need to be prepared to provide details of any substances they have taken – this needs to be written on the Doping Control form. Athletes and players should report any concerns they have about the process or the equipment on the Doping Control form.

Athletes and players can find out more about testing, including their rights and responsibilities, in the Athlete Zone or by downloading the Clean Sport App from their app store.

Useful Links and Resources

100% me Elite Athlete Clean Sport App for Smartphones

For essential anti-doping information download the Clean Sport App from iTunes, Google Play or Windows Live Store– the sport specific or the generic version.

Check Your Medications on Global DRO

Remember to check all medications on Global DRO, where you can search by ingredients or brand name.

Assess the Risk of Supplements on Informed Sport

You can find information on supplements and ways of reducing the risks on Informed Sport.

Register with UK Anti-Doping

Visit UKAD’s website to keep up to date with the latest news. 

For More Information from UKAD:

Key Contacts

Scottish Disability Sport
Telephone: 0131 317 1130
Email: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com

UK Anti-Doping
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7842 3450
Email: ukad@ukad.org.uk
Website: www.ukad.org.uk

Reporting Doping
Telephone: 08000 32 23 32
Website
or submit a form: submit information to UK Anti-Doping via a secure online form.

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF ANTI-DOPING ACTIVITIES 2021/2022

Following the publication of the new UK Anti-Doping Assurance Framework in April 2021, the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Board re-confirmed the organisation’s adoption of the UK Anti-Doping rules in full and without amendment.

  • In March 2021, the SDS Clean Sport Policy was reviewed and approved by the SDS Board. This policy is due to be reviewed again in March 2023.
  • In November 2021, the SDS Clean Sport Implementation Plan, Education Strategy and SWOT Analysis was reviewed by the SDS Board and approved.
  • In December 2021, SDS Board director Aileen Neilson was appointed as the Board Lead for Clean Sport.
  • In March 2022, the SDS Board officially agreed that Clean Sport would be a standing agenda item at SDS Board meetings.
  • In May 2022, the SDS Performance Manager presented to the Board on the Clean Sport Implementation Plan and progress made towards the requirements of the new Anti-Doping Assurance Framework.
  • In May 2022, SDS was informed by UKAD that after the first review, 83% of the requirements of the new Anti-Doping Assurance Framework were approved. Four areas requiring additional evidence were also highlighted.
  • SDS is working to achieve 100% approval of the new Anti-Doping Assurance Framework by the end of June 2022.

The Scottish Boccia Squad athletes have received clean sport education/training, as follows;

  • Scottish Boccia Training – 26 February 2022, Alloa Academy
  • Scottish Boccia Camp – 11-13 March 2022, National Sports Centre Inverclyde, Largs
  • Scottish Boccia National Championships (BISFed Classes) – 7 May 2022, National Sports Centre Inverclyde, Largs
  • Scottish Boccia Training – 28 May 2022, Alloa Academy
  • Online workshop – 30th August 2023
  • Online Workshop – 9th January 2024
  • Online Workshop – 19th February 2024

Educational reach to coaches, volunteers, parents and athletes has taken place via the SDS website, social media channels and directly via email.

SDS will continue to communicate and update in relation to clean sport to all those involved with the Scottish Boccia Squad via these channels.