An athlete is responsible for anything found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there is any intention to cheat. All athletes and athlete support personnel should make themselves aware of the risks, so they don’t receive an unintentional ban from sport. Useful information for athletes can be found on the UKAD website.

The Prohibited List

All banned substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List. Substances and methods can be added to the Prohibited List at any time; however, it is updated as a minimum once a year, coming into effect on 1 January. The latest Prohibited List can be found on the WADA website. As this list is updated frequently, athletes and athlete support personnel should make sure they check it regularly for any changes. More information can be found on UKAD’s website here.

Checking Medications

Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or purchased over the counter), athletes must check to make sure it doesn’t contain any banned substances. Medications (ingredients or brand name) 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. For more information on checking medications, visit UKAD’s website here.

Taking Nutritional Supplements

UKAD always advises a food first approach to nutrition, as there are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from banned substances. Athletes can support their training and progress towards their targets by eating and enjoying nutritious food. With a bit of planning, it is possible to eat a delicious and healthy diet made up of a variety of food types at the right time, and in the right quantities.

Athletes should assess the need, the risks and the consequences before deciding to take a supplement, and if they need to use one, visit the Informed Sport website to check whether supplements have been batch-tested. More advice on managing supplement risks can be found on UKAD’s Supplement Hub here.

Applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

If an athlete with a legitimate medical condition needs to use a prohibited substance or method, they will need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). This is only accepted if there are no other suitable permitted medications or treatments that can be used, and there is a strict, detailed process to determine this. Athletes can find out more information about the TUE process on the UKAD website here and use the TUE Wizard to find out whether they need to apply for a TUE and who to submit their application to.

What happens in a test?

Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. Check out this video below on the testing process from start to finish:

Athletes can find out more in the Introduction to Testing section of UKAD’s website.

Protect Your Sport

Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part - athletes, coaches, or parents - whether on centre stage or behind the scenes. Speak out if you feel there’s something wrong - no matter how small. UKAD guarantee that your identity will always be kept 100% confidential. Find out more about Protect Your Sport here.

There are four ways to contact if you want to speak out:

• Email - When you feel something’s wrong, send UKAD an email. UKAD guarantee that your name and email address will be kept confidential. Email at pys@reportingdoping.com
• Online Form - Let UKAD know via the form on protectyoursport.co.uk. Choose the two-way communication option at the end of the form. You will still be anonymous, but UKAD will have the chance to follow up later on. Fill in the form here
• 24/7 Hotline - Call on 08000 32 23 32. UKAD is here to listen and won’t ask who you are. You may want to keep your identity a secret but telling UKAD who you are makes a real difference later on, so consider emailing first.