The 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations

We test Athletes for the Presence of substances, listed on the World Anti-Doping Code - International Standard - Prohibited List. 

We also test for markers or other chemicals that indicate a Prohibited Substance has been used by an Athlete.

It is each Athlete’s personal responsibility to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters their body. Athletes are responsible for any Prohibited Substance, or its metabolites or markers found in their sample.

A positive test is enough to establish a ‘Presence’ Anti-Doping Rule Violation. It is not necessary to show that an Athlete:

• had intent
• was at fault
• was negligent
• knowingly used a prohibited substance

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An Athlete must ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters their bodies and that no Prohibited Method is used.

To establish that an Athlete ‘Used’ a Prohibited Substance, it is not necessary to show that an Athlete:

• had intent
• was at fault
• was negligent
• knowingly used a Prohibited Substance.

A ‘Use or Attempted Use’ Anti-Doping Rule Violation can be established by any reliable means, such as:

• a positive test
• admissions
• witness statements
• documentary evidence
• data or other analytical information.

If an Athlete needs to use a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method for therapeutic reasons, they should apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

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If an Athlete refuses or fails to submit to testing without compelling justification after notification, they can be sanctioned. If an Athlete evades testing, they can also be sanctioned.

A failure to submit to sample collection by an Athlete may be based on negligent or intentional conduct by an Athlete. A failure to comply or evade testing is established by intentional conduct by an Athlete. 

For example, deliberately avoiding a Doping Control Official to avoid testing could be evasion.

Athletes who are part of the Registered Testing Pool need to let us know where they are going to be, at specific times (also known as Whereabouts). This is so we can perform testing out-of-competition with no advanced notice.

If Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool do not provide current and accurate Whereabouts information, they may incur a declaration of a Missed Test, or a Filing Failure. This is commonly referred to as a Whereabouts Failure.

If an Athlete has 3 Whereabouts Failures (either a Missed Test or Filing Failure) in a 12 month period, this is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, and the Athlete can be sanctioned.

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Any attempt to tamper with any part of Doping Control may be an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. 

Tampering can include:

• intentionally interfering or attempting to interfere with a Doping Control official
• providing fraudulent information to an Anti-Doping Organisation
• intimidating or attempting to intimidate a potential witness.

Some examples of Tampering include:

• altering identification numbers on a Doping Control Form during testing
• breaking the bottle at the time of sample analysis
• altering a sample by adding a foreign substance
• giving a false statement, evidence or documents in an anti-doping investigation.

Athletes and Athlete Support Persons can be sanctioned for possessing Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods. This is the case even if they have not used the Prohibited Substance or the Prohibited Method.

An Athlete or Athlete Support Person cannot possess a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method unless the Athlete or Athlete Support Person establishes that the possession was in accordance with a Therapeutic Use Exemption or acceptable justification.

Acceptable justification would not include, for example, buying or purchasing a Prohibited Substance for a friend, but could include justifiable medical circumstances, for example buying insulin for a diabetic child using a physician’s prescription.

Possession by an Athlete or Athlete Support Person can include:

• Actual, physical possession
• Constructive possession (where a person has control or intends to exercise control over the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method or the premises in which the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method exists)
• Possession by purchase (including electronic or other means).

If an Athlete needs to use a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method for therapeutic reasons, they should apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

Athletes or other Persons bound by an anti-doping policy can receive a sanction for Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking Prohibited substances or Prohibited Methods.

Trafficking includes:

• selling
• giving
• transporting
• sending
• delivering
• distributing
• or moving a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method physically or by any electronic or other means.

Trafficking can include supplying Prohibited Substances to people who are not athletes.

Trafficking does not include:

• actions of bond fide medical personnel involving a Prohibited Substance used for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes or other acceptable justification
• actions involving substances that are prohibited in-competition only, unless the Prohibited Substance is not intended for genuine or legal therapeutic purposes or are intended to enhance sport performance.

We work closely with Australian Border Force and other law enforcement agencies to investigate trafficking of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods by Athletes or other Persons.

If an Athlete, or other Person bound by an anti-doping policy administers or attempts to administer any Prohibited Method or Substance to an Athlete, they may be sanctioned.

An example of an ‘Administration’ Anti-Doping Rule Violation might be where an Athlete or Athlete Support Person:

• provides
• supplies
• supervises
• facilitates
• or otherwise participates in the Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method by an Athlete.

Administration does not include:

• actions of bona fide medical personnel involving a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method used for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes or other acceptable justification.
• actions involving substances that are prohibited in-competition only, unless the Prohibited Substance is not intended for genuine or legal therapeutic purposes or are intended to enhance sport performance.

If an Athlete or other Person bound by an anti-doping policy is aware that someone intends or attempts to violate an anti-doping rule, or if they try to cover up another person's Anti-Doping Rule Violation, they may be sanctioned.

Complicity includes:

• assisting
• encouraging
• aiding
• abetting
• conspiring
• covering up
• or any other type of intentional complicity, involving any Anti-Doping Rule Violation or Attempted Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Complicity or Attempted Complicity may include either physical or psychological assistance. 

Athletes, or other Persons bound by an anti-doping policy are not allowed to associate with an Athlete Support Person in a professional or sport-related capacity who:

• is serving a sanction for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation
• is not subject to a sport’s anti-doping policy but has been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping
• is serving as a front or intermediary for an individual described above.

For example, some types of association which are prohibited include:

• obtaining training, strategy, technique, nutrition or medical advice
• obtaining therapy, treatment or prescriptions.

To be sanctioned for Prohibited Association, the Athlete or other Person must have known of the Athlete Support Person's disqualifying status.

A global list of Athlete Support Personnel who are currently suspended from working with Athletes or other Persons is published on the WADA website.

It is an offence by an Athlete or other Person bound by an anti-doping policy to discourage or retaliate against someone for reporting information relating to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, non-compliance with the Code or other doping activity. 

For example, an Athlete witnesses their teammate using a Prohibited Substance and the Athlete’s teammate threatens to harm the Athlete if they tell the authorities. In this example, the teammate can be found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.