Anti-Doping Policy & Information
All athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean. Kabaddi Scotland believes in clean competition climbing and works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and our World Governing Body (Word Kabaddi) to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected and prevent doping. The use of performance-enhancing drugs and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of sport and undermines the integrity of clean athletes.
There are many organisations that work hard to protect sport. Kabaddi Scotland is affiliated with the World Kabaddi Governing Body, who follow the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), WADA is responsible for leading the collaborative worldwide campaign for clean sport. Established in 1999 as an independent agency and funded by both sport and governments, it manages the development of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code aims to harmonise all anti-doping policies, ensuring that athletes and athlete support personnel are treated fairly and consistently.
The aims of the Anti-Doping Code and WADA are to:
Protect the Athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for Athletes worldwide, and
Ensure harmonised, coordinated and effective anti-doping programmes at the international and national level about detection, deterrence and prevention of doping UKAD is the national anti-doping agency for the UK, dedicated to p rotecting a culture of clean sport – it achieves this through implementing education and testing programmes, gathering and developing intelligence, and prosecuting those found to have committed an
Anti-Doping Rule Violation. 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. Under the 2021 Code, an athlete may be classified as being “International-Level”, “National-Level” or a “Recreational Athlete” based on their competition level. Further information on these different categories is available on the UKAD website.
Know the risks of nutritional supplements
Athletes 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.
All athletes 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 – before deciding to use supplements.
Visit the UKAD website for further information including the Informed Sport programme, which provides a batch-testing service for supplement products.
Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
Athletes 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 (as defined by their International Federation) need to apply to their International Federation for a TUE
Athletes competing at the 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 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 should notify the relevant body of this as soon as possible before competing.
Athletes 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. Only in an emergency or where there will be a severe impact on health should treatment begin without the necessary approval. Athletes 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).
Find out more about whether you need a TUE and how to apply for one (including emergency TUEs) on the UKAD website
Support, useful advice and resources
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking The BMC (zoe@thebmc.co.uk), coaches and athlete support personnel, you may also contact UKAD directly, who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance.
Managing inadvertent doping risks
Anti-doping rules
The anti-doping rules for the BMC are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, which governs anti-doping internationally. The anti-doping rules of the BMC are the UK Anti-Doping Rules, published by UK Anti-Doping, and amended from time to time. Check out the UK Anti-Doping Rules
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. Check out the latest Prohibited List on the WADA website.
Importance of checking medications
Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter), athletes 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 from the same branded medication in another country.