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ANTIDOPING SELF-EDUCATION
Since January 1, 2021, when they were published, the International Standards for Education became mandatory as part of the World Anti-Doping Program, that is, they represent a legal obligation for all athletes and anti-doping organizations.
That is why all anti-doping organizations have an obligation to develop an educational program that will satisfy the following four components:
I. Education based on values:
Implementation of activities that emphasize the development of personal values and principles of the individual. It builds the athlete’s ability to make decisions about ethical behaviour.
II. Raising awareness:
Highlighting topics and issues related to clean sport.
III. Providing information:
Making available accurate, up-to-date content related to fair sport and fair play.
IV. Anti-doping education:
Provide training on anti-doping topics to build competence in fair sportsmanship and make informed decisions.
In addition to these general principles, there are 11 mandatory topics that every athlete and athlete’s support staff should know:
1. Principles and values associated with clean sport
2. Rights and responsibilities of athletes, sports personnel and other groups under the Code
3. The principle of absolute liability
4. Consequences of doping on physical and mental health, social and economic effects, and sanctions
5. Violation of anti-doping rules (ADRV – Anti-Doping Rule Violations)
6. Substances and methods on the List of Prohibited Substances
7. Risks of using supplements
8. Use of drugs and exemption for therapeutic use (TUE – Therapeutic Use Exemption)
9. Urine, blood and athlete biological passport (ABP) testing procedures
10. RTG (Registered Test Group) requirements, including location data and use of ADAMS
11. SPEAK UP –share concerns about doping
1. PRINCIPLES AND VALUES RELATED TO CLEAN SPORT
The Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro promotes and supports the principles and values with regards to clean sport and anti-doping, including:
· Fair play: Clean sport promotes fairness and equal opportunities for all athletes. The bottom line is that success should be achieved through talent, hard work and dedication, not through the use of banned substances or methods.
· Health and Safety: Clean sport prioritizes the health and safety of athletes. The athlete should recognize that the use of performance-enhancing substances or methods can have adverse effects on physical and mental well-being.
· Integrity: Clean sport supports the integrity of sport and a level playing field for all participants, and ensures that competitions and results are legitimate and based on the natural abilities of the athletes.
· Respect: Clean sport promotes respect for the rules and regulations governing the sport, as well as respect for the athletes, officials and the sport itself. Clean sport emphasizes ethical behaviour and sportsmanship.
· Transparency: Clean sport promotes transparency in anti-doping efforts. This includes clear and consistent rules on anti-doping policies, procedures and consequences for athletes, coaches and support staff.
· Education: Clean sport emphasizes the importance of education and awareness of anti-doping rules, prohibited substances and methods, as well as the risks and consequences associated with doping. It aims to empower athletes to make informed decisions and discourage doping – through knowledge.
· Accountability: Clean sport holds athletes, coaches and support staff accountable for their actions. It establishes a system of anti-doping rules, testing and sanctions to deter and detect doping and to ensure that those who break the rules face appropriate consequences.
· Collaboration: Clean sport recognizes the need for collaboration between all stakeholders, including sports organisations, anti-doping organisations, athletes, coaches and support staff. This includes working together to develop and implement effective anti-doping strategies and initiatives. These principles and values are fundamental in promoting the culture of clean sport and ensuring the integrity, fairness and health of athletes and the sport itself.
2. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATHLETES, ATHLETES SPORTS PERSONNEL AND OTHER PERSONS ACCORDING TO THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE
ATHLETES’ RIGHTS:
1. The athlete has the right to the companion (most often the team doctor, although it can be any member of the team) and, if necessary, an interpreter.
2. The athlete has the right to request additional information about the sample collection process.
3. The athlete can report to the Doping Control Station later for valid reasons (confirmed by the Doping Control Officer), which relate to stretching, providing first aid and carrying out medical procedures, awarding medals or making a statement to the media.
4. If an athlete has special needs or a disability, he/she can request changes in the procedure for collecting doping samples.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATHLETES:
1. The athlete must remain under the direct supervision of the DCO (Doping Control Officer)/chaperone at all times from the moment he/she is notified that he/she is going for doping control until the end of the sample collection procedure.
2. The athlete must have proper photo identification.
3. The athlete must comply with the sample collection procedure – failure to do so may constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
4. The athlete should immediately come to the Doping Control Station, unless there are justified reasons for delay.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATHLETE SUPPORT PERSONNEL
1. To be knowledgeable of and comply with all antidoping policies and rules adopted pursuant to the Code and which are applicable to them or the Athletes whom they support.
2. To cooperate with the Athlete Testing program.
3. To use their influence on Athlete values and behaviour to foster anti-doping attitudes.
4. To disclose to their National Anti-Doping Organization and International Federation any decision by a non-Signatory finding that they committed an anti-doping rule violation within the previous ten (10) years.
5. To cooperate with Anti-Doping Organizations investigating anti-doping rule violations.
6. Athlete Support Personnel shall not Use or Possess any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method without valid justification.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OTHER PERSONS
1. To be knowledgeable of and comply with all antidoping policies and rules adopted pursuant to the Code and which are applicable to them.
2. To disclose to their National Anti-Doping Organization and International Federation any decision by a non-Signatory finding that they committed an anti-doping rule violation within the previous ten (10) years.
3. To cooperate with Anti-Doping Organizations investigating anti-doping rule violations.
3. ABSOLUTE LIABILITY
According to the Article 2.1 and Article 2.2, it is not necessary for the Anti-Doping Organization to prove intent, error, negligence or willful misconduct by the athlete in order to prove an anti-doping rule violation. This means that every athlete is absolutely liable for the substances found 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. Simply put, an athlete is responsible for everything he/she enters into his/her body.
4. CONSEQUENCES OF DOPING
Doping is fundamentally against the spirit of sport. Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more violations of the anti-doping rules specified in the World Anti-Doping Code. The consequences of doping can be related to physical and mental health, social and economic aspects and sanctions.
Consequences for physical and mental health
Medicines are intended for all people with specific health problems, but certainly not for healthy people, i.e. healthy athletes. Medicines outside of their indications for use should not be used by healthy people, especially not in larger doses or in combination with other substances. Taking medicines when they are not needed can have consequences on the body and affect career termination. Not all prohibited substances used by athletes are medicines, because among the prohibited substances there are also narcotics and the so-called recreational drugs. There are many side effects of taking illegal substances, and some of them are physiological and psychological:
1. Anabolic steroids can damage the liver, lead to premature closure of the growth centers of long bones (in adolescents) which can lead to stunted growth, to increased aggression, which can sometimes result in abnormal sexual and criminal behavior, often associated with depression and anxiety, and in some cases also by suicide.
2. Selective androgen receptor modulators can cause organ failure.
3. Growth hormone can cause hypertension, heart attack, thyroid problems, severe headaches, vision loss, acromegaly (bulging or enlarged jaw, forehead, skull, hands and feet), high blood pressure and heart failure, diabetes and tumors.
4. Blood doping can cause cardiovascular problems, blood clotting, stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism.
5. Stimulants can cause insomnia, anxiety, weight loss, addiction, dehydration, tremors, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, heart attack and cardiac arrhythmia.
Social consequences
· Damage to future career prospects
· Damaged relationships with friends and family
· Permanent damage to reputation through bad media publicity that may lead to public condemnation
· Loss of reputation, respect and credibility
· Pressure on the athlete as well as to persons close to the athlete, e.g. family members and support staff
· Impact on emotional and psychological well-being
Economic consequences
· Loss of sponsorship contracts
· Loss of income
· Athlete and /or teammates may lose previous results
Sport consequences
· Isolation from peers and sports
Legal consequences for violation of anti-doping rules
· If it is proven that the athlete intentionally violated the anti-doping rules (regardless of the substance), the ban period is four years.
· Otherwise, the ban period is two years, and if the athlete can prove that he/she did not have a significant mistake or negligence, in that case the sanction can be reduced by a maximum of one year. It is important to point out that each doping positive case is individual and that it is not easy to generally determine the same penalty for the same violation of anti-doping rules.
· If the violation involved a specific substance or contaminated product/ supplement, and the athlete can prove that he/she had no significant fault and negligence, the punishment can vary from two years to a warning (depending on the level of guilt).
· The athlete should also to be aware that multiple anti-doping rule violations or the presence of multiple substances may increase the penalty he/she faces after four years.
· For some anti-doping rule violations, the penalty may be for life ban on playing sports.
5. ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATION (ADRV)
According to Article 2 of the Anti-Doping Code, anti-doping rule violations include:
2.1 –Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample
2.2 – Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method by an athlete
2.3 – Refusing, evading or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete
2.4 – Failure to file whereabouts information and/or missed tests by an athlete
2.5 – Tampering or attemped tampering with the doping control process by an athlete or other person
2.6 – Possession of a prohibited substance or prohibited method by an athlete or Athlete Support Personnel (ASP)
2.7 – Trafficking or attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance or prohibited method by an athlete or other person
2.8 – Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or prohibited method to an athlete
2.9 – Complicity or attempted complicity in an ADRV by an athlete or other person
2.10 – Prohibited association by an athlete or other person with a sanctioned ASP
2.11 – Acts to discourage or retaliate against reporting to the authorities
6. SUBSTANCES AND METHODS ON THE PROHIBITED LIST
The list of prohibited substances and methods (List), updated annually by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), is an international standard that defines what is prohibited in competition and out of competition. The list also shows whether certain substances are banned in certain sports. Athletes and athlete support personnel can find the detailed WADA Prohibited List for the current year at the following link https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list as well as at https://anti-doping.me/dokumenta/, and only the basic characteristics of the groups will be listed here:
SUBSTANCES AND METHODS ALWAYS PROHIBITED
S0. Unapproved substances
S1. Anabolic agents
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. of male hypogonadism.
S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. anemia, male hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency.
S3. Beta-2 agonists
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. asthma and other respiratory diseases.
S4. Hormones and metabolic modulators
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. breast cancer, diabetes, infertility in women, polycystic ovary syndrome.
S5. Diuretics and masking agents
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. heart failure, hypertension.
M1 – M2 – M3 Prohibited methods
Important note without limitation – Intravenous infusions and/or injections in an amount greater than 100 ml in a 12-hour period are prohibited, except for those legitimately received during hospital treatment, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic testing.
SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED IN THE COMPETITION
S6. Stimulants
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), colds and flu.
S7. Narcotics
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. pain, including musculoskeletal injuries.
S8. Cannabinoids
S9. Glucocorticoids
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. allergies, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases.
SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN SPORTS
P1. Beta blockers
Some of these substances can be found, without limitation, in medicines for the treatment of e.g. heart failure, hypertension.
Although some substances are banned only in competition, the athlete must be aware that the metabolites of the substances can remain in the body for days/weeks afterwards, and that the athlete can test positive if is tested in the competition. For example, marijuana metabolites detected by anti-doping laboratories can remain in a urine sample for two to three weeks.
Substances of abuse
According to Article 4.2.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code, substances of abuse are substances that are so designated because they are frequently abused in society outside the scope of sports. Substances of abuse are: cocaine, diamorphine (heroin), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
7. RISKS OF USING SUPPLEMENTS
Dietary supplements are foods that supplement normal nutrition and are concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, individually or in combination, and are sold in dosage forms designed to be taken in measured individual quantities (capsules, tablets, sachets of powder, ampoules of liquid, vials for dosing drops, etc.). This is the definition from the Rulebook on the Healthiness of Dietary Products, which regulates the market of supplements in Montenegro.
One aspect is particularly important for athletes and supplements: the possible presence of doping substances and subsequently a positive result from a doping test. This is a realistic threat for athletes. Doping substances can end up in a product for various reasons:
- Contamination in the production process: unintentional mixing during manufacturing or bottling.
- Ignorance: The manufacturing company does not know what is prohibited, uses the substance and does not label it correctly on the packaging.
- Intentional admixture: The manufacturer hopes for better sales of its products if they have a particularly good effect due to the addition of substances with an anabolic effect, for example.
The causes of contamination of supplements with prohibited substances can be intentional or unintentional, regardless of whether it is declared on the product. Unlike medicines, supplements do not have strictly controlled production or quality control, and this is the situation all over the world. It is well known that supplements can be contaminated with prohormones, hormones, stimulants or other prohibited substances. This can happen during production itself when there are no quality conditions and mixing of different products occurs. If the devices are not properly cleaned, contamination occurs with some of the prohibited substances that have previously passed through those devices. This is in most cases accidental or unintentional contamination, but there are also cases of intentional contamination with e.g. anabolic steroids, in order to improve the effects of the supplements. Available data indicate that between 40-70% of athletes use supplements, and that between 12-58% of supplements may contain banned substances. This clearly indicates that there is a significant risk of accidental or unintentional doping due to the use of supplements.
With aggressive marketing advertisements and numerous retail outlets, supplement sellers make their products attractive and easy to obtain by athletes who know nothing about the source or purity of the ingredients. So, if an athlete decides to take the risk because they want the benefits of the supplementation they are taking, it is recommended that they use products from large, reputable companies that are probably the best choice. Reputable brands of vitamins, minerals and other common supplements produced by large companies are usually manufactured to high standards and should be doping-safe ie. are considered low-risk. Contamination is a problem in some smaller companies, especially those targeting the recreational athlete and bodybuilding market. Companies that do not sell steroids and prohormones are less likely to have their products contaminated with these substances. An athlete must be careful when using supplements that “increase muscle mass” or are advertised as “fat burners”.
WADA and other anti-doping organizations do not certify or approve dietary supplements. Taking a supplement can cause an athlete to test positive and can be harmful to the athlete’s health and have a negative impact on athletic ability. The reality is that the use of dietary supplements can be very risky and care must be taken when using them, and caution should be exercised when considering their use.
8. USE OF MEDICINES AND THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTION (TUE)
Athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to use drugs or undergo certain methods. If a drug or method that an athlete is to use to treat a disease or condition is prohibited under the Prohibited List, an approved TUE allows that athlete to use that substance or method while competing without the risk of violating anti-doping rules. TUE applications are assessed and approved by the TUE Board. The TUE approved by the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro as the National Anti-Doping Organization is only valid for competition at the national level and out-of-competition testing.
TUEs are granted only if the athlete can demonstrate, with an equal degree of probability, that each of the following criteria is met (for more details see the WADA International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) Article 4.2):
· the prohibited substance or prohibited method for which a TUE is required is necessary for the treatment of a diagnosed medical condition that is confirmed by relevant clinical evidence;
· the therapeutic use of prohibited substances and/or methods will not cause any additional improvement in the athlete’s ability, other than that which could be expected as a result of returning to normal health after treatment of the medical condition;
· the prohibited substance and/or method is an indicated method of treatment for a specific medical condition and there is no permitted therapeutic alternative;
· the necessity of using prohibited doping substances and /or the method is not, in whole or in part, a consequence of their previous non-therapeutic use which was prohibited at the time of use.
It is important to point out the criteria around the alternative therapy, because athletes often use medicines for colds or headaches or pain, which contain the stimulant pseudoephedrine, which is prohibited and which has many alternative options. If an athlete uses medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, then he/she must know that the chances of getting a TUE are minimal, because there are alternatives to those drugs that do not contain the prohibited substance.
Athletes subject to doping control must have an approved TUE in order to use prohibited substances or methods. The athlete should check whether the drug he/she is to use is prohibited according to the Prohibited List.
An athlete may retroactively request approval for a TUE if one of the following exceptions applies:
1. Urgent treatment or treatment of an acute medical condition was necessary;
2. There was insufficient time, opportunity or there were other exceptional circumstances that prevented the athlete from requesting (or the TUE Board considering) an application for a TUE prior to taking samples for doping control;
3. The athlete used out of competition, for therapeutic reasons, a prohibited substance that is prohibited only in competition.
In rare and exceptional situations notwithstanding any other provision in the International Standard for Therapeutic Exemption, an athlete may seek approval and be granted a TUE retroactively if, in terms of the rights granted by the Code, it would be unfair to deny the TUE. Such a TUE will only be approved with the consent of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which will have the right to reject such a TUE.
Important Note:
Use of a prohibited substance or method without an approved TUE may result in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. In the event that a TUE application is necessary, immediately after sample collection the athlete is advised to have medical reports ready for submission.
The Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro supports the TUE application by filling out the form available on the website: https://anti-doping.me/izuzeca-u-terapijske-svrhe/.
The athlete should download the TUE application form and, completely and accurately filled and signed, should send it together with complete medical documentation to the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro.
The TUE Board will consider only those requests that contain: a completely and legibly completed TUE approval form, submitted (scanned) in the original and signed by the competent doctor and the applicant, i.e. his/her legal representative, and the attached necessary medical documentation. The request should also contain all previous and currently valid approvals for the use of prohibited doping substances and/or methods.
Medical documentation, in original or copy (or scanned) should include: professional opinion of the competent doctor/s on the diagnosis of the disease, with the history of the disease; results of all relevant laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures; current therapy (exact dose, frequency, method of application and length of administration of prohibited substances and/or methods); possible length of treatment; the statement (expert opinion) of the competent doctor/s of a certain specialty with a detailed explanation of why the permitted substances and methods are not or could not be an adequate substitute in the therapy of the sick athlete. In order to support, an independent professional opinion of another doctor can be attached to the request.
The athlete shall bear all costs related to the process of approval of the therapeutic use exemption and any additional information required for the TUE Board’s decision.
In order to help athletes and doctors in providing the necessary documentation, it is advised to check the instructions and guides for TUE applications: Checklists for TUE applications – e.g. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/therapeutic-use-exemption/checklist-therapeutic-use-exemption-tue-application-kidney, along with information on common medical conditions that require a TUE application: Medical Information to Support the Decisions of TUECs – https://www.wada-ama.org/en/search?q=TUE%20Physician%20Guidelines&filters%5Bcontent_type%5D%5B%5D=%22resource%22
The athlete should keep proof of the TUE application.
When an athlete already has an approved TUE from the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro for a specific substance or method, his/her TUE is not immediately automatically recognized by the competent international sports federation or the organizer of an international sports competition, and this should be strictly taken into account. If that TUE meets the criteria of the International Standard for TUEs, then the relevant international sports federation or the organizer of the international sports event will be obliged to recognize the TUE.
The TUE Board undertakes measures to decide as quickly as possible on the request for TUE approval, i.e. the acceptance and/or rejection of the TUE of another organization, with the fact that the deadline for making a decision cannot be longer than 21 days from the date of receipt of the complete request (if there are no extraordinary circumstances). If the application for TUE authorization is submitted within a reasonable time before the sporting event, the TUE Board must make every effort to reach its decision before the start of the event.
The TUE Board approves the TUE for a certain period of time, the beginning and end of which are clearly indicated. If the athlete has to continue with therapy that contains a prohibited substance or method even after the expiration of the TUE approval, it is necessary to request approval for a new TUE again in advance.
Important note:
TUE applies only to the dose, frequency, method of administration and duration of administration of the prohibited substance or method that are specified in the TUE approval, and any change to the specified parameters requires a new TUE application.
If the TUE is rejected, the decision must contain the reason for the rejection. The athlete has the right to request additional clarification for the rejection of the TUE. If the TUE Board rejects the TUE request, the athlete who is not an International Athlete may appeal to the Anti-Doping Appeals Board.
When the TUE Board approves a TUE for an athlete, it informs the athlete in writing that the TUE is only valid at the national level. If an international federation or the organizer of an international sports event considers that a TUE approved by the TUE Board does not meet the criteria and refuses to recognize it, the international federation shall without delay inform the athlete and the Commission and state the reasons for the refusal, in which case:
· The Athlete and/or the Commission have the right to apply to WADA within twenty-one (21) days of receiving such notification with a request to review the case in accordance with Article 4.4.6. of the World Anti-Doping Code, and if such a request is made, a TUE approved by the TUE Board remains valid for national competitions and national out-of-competition testing (but not valid for international competitions) pending a decision by WADA.
· If the case is not timely reported for WADA review, the Commission must decide whether the original TUE approved by the TUE Board will remain valid for national level competitions and out-of-competition testing, provided that in this case, the athlete ceases to be an athlete of international rank and cannot participate in international competitions. Pending the Commission’s decision, the TUE remains valid for national level competitions and out-of-competition testing, but is not valid for international competitions.
WADA must review the decision of the relevant international sports federation not to recognize a TUE approved by the Commission, which has been forwarded to WADA by the athlete or the Commission. WADA may review any other TUE decision at any time, either at the request of those affected by that decision or on its own initiative. Any TUE decision made by the relevant international sports federation that has not been reviewed by WADA, or that has been reviewed by WADA but not overturned after review, the athlete and/or the Commission can appeal only to the CAS/Court of Arbitration for Sport.
WADA contact address:
WADA Medical Department
World Anti-Doping Agency
Stock Exchange Tower
800 Place Victoria (Suite 1700)
P.O. Box 120
Montreal (Quebec) H4Z 1B7
Canada
E-mail address: medical@wada-ama.org
New rules for the use of glucocorticoids – IMPORTANT!
From 2022, the Prohibited List includes glucocorticoids that are used in all injectable forms and methods of administration. Examples of injectable administration include intravenous, intramuscular, periarticular, intraarticular, peritendinous, intratendinous, epidural, intrathecal, intrabursal, intralesional (eg, keloid), intradermal, and subcutaneous. It should also be noted that all oral methods of administration are still prohibited, including oral mucosa, buccal, gingival and sublingual administration. All other routes of administration, including inhalation, intranasal spray, eye drops, perianal, dermal, dental (canal) administration, and topical administration are permitted at all times and do not require a TUE.
The use of glucocorticoids out of competition in any way is not prohibited, but the use of glucocorticoids in competition is prohibited and requires a TUE application. In competition is meant the time after midnight on the day of the game, match, fight, race. If the athlete and the competent physician provide adequate clinical evidence of the use of glucocorticoids, a retroactive TUE may be granted, if the athlete tests positive for doping. If the TUE is not granted, an adverse analytical finding may lead to sanction and suspension.
9. URINE AND BLOOD TESTING PROCEDURES, AND THE ATHLETE’S BIOLOGICAL PASSPORT (ABP)
Testing and investigations may be undertaken for any anti-doping purpose. Testing shall be undertaken to obtain analytical evidence as to whether the Athlete has violated Article 2.1 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample) or Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) of the Code.
Any Athlete may be required to provide a Sample at any time and at any place by any Anti-Doping Organization with Testing authority over him or her.
Testing can be In-Competition and Out-of-Competition. In-Competition: The period commencing at 11:59 p.m. on the day before a Competition in which the Athlete is scheduled to participate through the end of such Competition and the Sample collection process related to such Competition. Out-of-Competition: Any period which is not In-Competition.
NOTIFICATION
If the athlete is selected for testing, the doping control officer will ask him/her at the end of the match or training to sign that he/she has received notification of testing. Athletes should know that refusing a test is subject to the same penalty as a doping positive.
DOPING CONTROL STATION
When the athlete receives the notification, he/she is obliged to come to the doping control station as soon as possible. During that time, he/she will be accompanied by a doping controll officer or chaperone.
CHOOSING A CUP FOR GIVING A URINE SAMPLE
When the athlete is ready to give a sample, he/she will choose one of the offered three or more sterile cups closed in a plastic bag and make sure that the cup has not been previously opened or damaged.
GIVING A URINE SAMPLE
A doping control officer of the same gender as the athlete must directly supervise the administration of the sample. If the athlete is unable to provide an adequate amount of sample on the first attempt, the sample will be sealed (so-called partial sample) and placed in a safe place until the athlete is ready to try again.
CHOOSING SAMPLES’ KITS
When the athlete has provided a sufficient amount of urine, the doping controll oficer will ask him/her to choose between three or more closed kits for doping control marked with a unique number (the kit contains two vials – A and B) . The doping control officer and the athlete must check the number on the kit (box), stickers (if any) and on both bottles. All numbers must be the same!
SAMPLE SECURITY
The athlete pours his sample into bottle B (minimum 30 ml) and into bottle A (minimum 60 ml). Then close the bottles tightly and check if they are well closed. The athlete is the only one who handles his/her sample, and only in exceptional circumstances is the doping controll officer.
After closing, the athlete places the vials in plastic bags and returns them to the cardboard/styrofoam box. A small amount of urine from a plastic cup will be used by the doping controll officer to measure the specific gravity of the urine. If it turns out that the sample is not suitable for analysis and the specific gravity is not satisfactory, ie. the sample is too diluted, the athlete must provide a new sample.
MEASURING SPECIFIC GRAVITY (URINE)
The doping control officer measures the specific gravity of the athlete’s urine to determine whether it meets laboratory standards. If the sample is too dilute, the athlete will be asked to provide additional sample(s).
GETTING DATA / Completing the Doping Control Form (DCF)
On the doping control form, the athlete should list, in addition to the basic information about himself/herself and the doping control procedure itself, all medicines and supplements that he/she took 7 days before the doping control. If he/she has been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), he/she should record this on the form.
The athlete should carefully check all the data from the doping control form and make sure that it is correct and precise. If he/she has any remarks or doubts related to the procedure, he/she should enter them in the form in the comment section. After signing, the athlete receives his/her copy of the form, and after his/her signature, nothing can be changed on the form.
As additional explanation, WADA video material The Doping Control Process for Athletes is provided via the link:
USE OF ALCOHOL IN THE DOPING CONTROL STATION
Alcohol is not allowed in the doping control station. Alcohol cannot and should not be consumed for the following reasons:
i. To ensure that the athlete provides an appropriate urine sample as soon as possible and that it does not affect the analytical values of certain hormones;
ii. To minimize any risks associated with the athlete drinking liquid (or food) prior to providing the sample (ie for health and safety reasons);
ili. To ensure that the athlete is sober and aware and not under the influence of alcohol when giving the sample, reviewing the documentation and signing that the procedure has been properly completed.
MODIFICATIONS FOR MINOR ATHLETES AND IMPAIRED ATHLETES
NOTIFICATION
If athlete is a minor or impaired when he/she is notified about been selected for doping control, a third party may be notified.
GIVING SAMPLE
Minors and impaired athletes can request the presence of the athlete’s representative. However, that representative cannot attend the actual giving of the sample. If presence of a representative is declined by the athlete, anti-doping organization or doping control officer may request the presence of a third party. Under certain circumstances, athlete can ask an athlete representative or DCO to help with handling equipment, distributing a sample, or fill out paperwork.
BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION PROCEDURE
The doping control officer shall ensure that the athlete is properly notified of the requirements of the Sample collection, including any modifications. The doping control officer/chaperone and athlete shall proceed to the area where the sample will be provided. The DCO shall ensure the athlete is offered comfortable conditions and shall instruct the athlete to remain in an upright, stationary seated position with feet on the floor for at least 10 minutes prior to providing a blood sample. If the athlete’s feet cannot reach the floor and/or the athlete’s impairment does not allow feet on the floor, the athlete shall remain in an upright, stationary seated position.
The DCO shall instruct the athlete to select the sample collection equipment required for collecting the sample and to check that the selected equipment has not been tampered with and any seals are intact. If the athlete is not satisfied with the selected equipment, they may select another. If the athlete is not satisfied with any equipment and no other is available, this shall be recorded by the DCO. If the DCO does not agree with the athlete that all of the available equipment is unsatisfactory, the DCO shall instruct the athlete to proceed with the sample collection session. If the DCO agrees with the athlete that all available equipment is unsatisfactory, the DCO shall terminate the blood sample collection, and this shall be recorded by the DCO. When a sample collection kit has been selected, the DCO and the athlete shall check that all sample code numbers match and that this sample code number is recorded accurately by the DCO on the Doping Control Form. If the athlete or DCO finds that the numbers are not the same, the DCO shall instruct the athlete to choose another kit. The DCO shall record the matter. If the collection tube(s) are not pre-labelled, the DCO shall label them with a unique sample code number prior to the blood being drawn and the athlete shall check that the code numbers match. The DCO shall assess the most suitable location for venipuncture that is unlikely to adversely affect the athlete or their performance. This should be the non-dominant arm, unless the DCO assesses the other arm to be more suitable. The DCO shall clean the skin with a sterile disinfectant wipe or swab and, if required apply a tourniquet. The DCO shall take the blood sample from a superficial vein into the tube. The tourniquet, if applied, shall be immediately removed after the venipuncture has been made.
The amount of blood removed shall be adequate to satisfy the relevant analytical requirements for the sample analysis to be performed, as set out in WADA’s Guidelines for Sample Collection. If the amount of blood that can be removed from the athlete at the first attempt is insufficient, the DCO shall repeat the procedure up to a maximum of three (3) attempts in total. Should all three (3) attempts fail to produce a sufficient amount of blood, then the DCO shall terminate the blood sample collection and record the reasons for terminating. The DCO shall apply a dressing to the puncture site(s). The DCO shall dispose of used blood sampling equipment not required to complete the sample collection session in accordance with the required local standards for handling blood. The athlete shall remain in the blood collection area and observe their sample until it is sealed in a tamper evident kit. The athlete shall seal their sample into a tamper evident kit as directed by the DCO. In full view of the athlete, the DCO shall check that the sealing is satisfactory. The athlete and the DCO shall sign the Doping Control form. The sealed Sample shall be stored in a manner that protects its integrity, identity and security prior to transport from the Doping Control Station to the Laboratory that will be analysing the sample. Blood Samples shall be transported in a device that maintains the integrity of samples over time, in a cool and constant environment, measured by a temperature data logger notwithstanding changes in external temperature.
ATHLETE BIOLOGICAL PASSPORT
The athlete’s biological passport is an individual analysis of the values of certain hormones and metabolites in the athlete’s urine or blood taken during doping control, stored in the ADAMS database. Values are monitored over a certain period of time for each athlete individually. Deviation or change of monitored parameters outside the established permissible limit values indicates a potential violation of anti-doping rules. Here, there is no traditional approach where an athlete tests positive for doping on a specific substance, but the athlete is sanctioned because there was a deviation of the values outside the normal range. This belongs to the so-called Intelligent testing, where the athlete and his/her values in blood (haematological module) and urine (steroid module) are monitored for a longer period of time.
10. TEST GROUP REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING WHEREABOUTS AND USE OF THE ADAMS DATABASE
The Registered Test Group is established for the purpose of planning and implementing doping control out of competition and preventive action. The Anti-Doping Commission establishes a national registered test group of athletes, taking into account the Risk Assessment and the so-called Intelligent testing.
The national Registered Test Group may include:
· athletes who have been designated as Olympic candidates by the Montenegrin Olympic Committee;
· athletes of national rank;
· athletes of international rank, in accordance with the rules of the competent international sports federation, if they are not in a registered group of an international sports federation;
· athletes who have been found responsible for violating anti-doping rules and athletes who want to continue their sports career after the expiration of the suspension on participating in competitions due to doping;
· athletes who are members of national sports teams;
· athletes whose result is in the three best results in Montenegro, achieved in the previous/current year;
· athletes who have had a significant and unexpected improvement in their results in the past 12 months;
· athletes who have been targeted by the Anti-Doping Commission.
In accordance with the International Standard for Testing and Investigation approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency, each athlete from a national Registered Testing Group is required to:
(a) notify the Anti-Doping Commission of his/her location throughout the year, on a quarterly basis;
(b) update that information daily if necessary so that it is accurate and true at all times;
(c) make himself/herself available for testing at a specified location designated by him/her.
The obligation consists in the form of submitting data in the world database ADAMS, namely:
· on any change of place of residence (exact address) and accommodation (full address);
· time and place (exact address) of holding training (framework training plan) or other regular activities. Regular activities may include work or school;
· place (exact and complete address) and time of sports competitions (official or friendly) and training camps, in which the athlete participates;
· telephone availability (contact telephone and, possibly, contact person) in case of leaving the usual place of residence;
· termination active sports and participation in sports competitions;
· basic data about the athlete (name and surname; gender; date and place of birth; residential address; address for receiving mail if different from residential address; phone number at work and home; mobile phone number; fax number; e-mail address; type of sport and discipline; name and surname and phone number of the other contact person; name of the national sports association and sports organization of which he/she is a member);
· a mandatory 60-minute period in which the athlete will be available for testing each day within the quarter to which the data relates.
The data is submitted via the ADAMS, which is administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency and has been translated into different languages.
ADAMS is a centralized system that enables the entry, storage, and exchange of data and reporting that takes place in a highly secure environment with limited access to all relevant parties. ADAMS is also a tool for managing data on the location of RTG members’ athletes (whereabouts), accessed via the Internet. It is designed solely to assist anti-doping organizations and other anti-doping participants in their ongoing activities, and is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.
ADAMS can be accessed via the link below:
The Anti-Doping Commission informs the athlete and his/her competent national sports federation that it has included him/her in the national Registered Test Group or excluded him/her from it, without delay.
The Anti-Doping Commission informs the athletes from the Registered Test Group about the rights and obligations related to the implementation of doping control, and especially about:
· filling in and reporting data in the ADAMS database;
· time limit for fulfilling prescribed obligations and the consequences of not fulfilling them;
· the method of submitting an application for the approval of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE).
If the athlete does not act in accordance with the notification and does not submit the data in a timely manner, or submits it incompletely, the Anti-Doping Commission will issue a warning to the athlete regarding failure to fulfill the obligations of availability for testing. The Anti-Doping Commission may, in accordance with the International Standard for Testing and Investigation, collect location information from athletes who are not included in the national Registered Test Group. Any combination of three missed doping tests and/or failure to complete an athlete whereabouts form, in accordance with the International Results Management Standards approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency, within a 12-month period, by an athlete included in a Registered Test Group, represents a violation of anti-doping rules.
Also, it is necessary for the athlete to edit whereabouts in the ADAMS database, by specifying the name and surname or the number on the intercom, i.e. to specify data that enable the unequivocal finding of the location where he/she resides. Otherwise, failure to provide this information can also be considered as evading doping control and a violation of anti-doping rules.
An athlete can register and activate the SMS option on one or more mobile telephone numbers in his/her ADAMS profile, for SMS messaging for whereabouts updates in ADAMS.
The Anti-Doping Commission makes a decision and updates data on the Registered Test Group in a timely manner and regularly (as a rule, every three months and before the start of the competition season) depending on the competition calendar. An athlete is included in the Registered Test Group when he/she meets the inclusion criteria. It is important to point out that the Anti-Doping Commission reserves the right to test out-of-competition all national level athletes at any time and in any location, regardless of whether they belong to a Registered Test Group or not.
ATHLETE CENTRAL
Athlete Central is WADA’s App that is facilitating athlete compliance with Whereabouts rules under the global anti-doping program. Whereabouts rules are a key component of global sport’s crucial out-of-competition testing programs. Powered by ADAMS, Athlete Central is a simple, smart and reliable way for athletes to provide their Whereabouts information in order to support out-of-competition testing and demonstrate their commitment to clean sport. Its attributes include:
- Smart App for improved accuracy
- Location-based address recommendations
- Intuitive user Interface requiring less support & training
- Supports all types of Whereabouts pools, including RTGs
- Improved adherence to International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI)
- A dedicated Help Desk
To access the App, links are provided below:
11. SPEAK UP / REPORT DOPING – share concerns about doping
In March 2017, the World Anti-Doping Agency launched a special section on its website called “Speak Up!” designed to protect clean athletes. This page can be used to anonymously report information about any suspected violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and Anti-Doping Rules.