Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Process
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
Under the World Anti-Doping Code there are 11 possible anti-doping rule violations.
ADRV process
Australia has a robust process in place to determine if an athlete or support person has committed a possible anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). This process is legislated under the Sport Integrity Australia Act 2020 and the Sport Integrity Australia Regulations 2020 (containing the National Anti-Doping scheme (NAD scheme)), and follows the principles set out under the World Anti-Doping Code 2021 (the Code), including the World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard – Results Management 2021, which establishes a process for the management of potential ADRVs.
Each potential ADRV brought before Sport Integrity Australia is unique in both its circumstances and the time it takes to reach a conclusion.
Sanctions for violations can range from a warning, to a short suspension or to a lifetime ban.
The following process sets out the general course of action that a matter may take through to its conclusion. The exact detail of the process will depend upon the anti-doping policy of the relevant sport.
Anti-Doping Rule Violation Handbook: A Guide for Athletes
We have published the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Handbook: A Guide for Athletes that outlines all the information athletes need when faced with an anti-doping rule violation.
The handbook offers end-to-end guidelines around this complex process, from when an athlete first receives their notification of an AAF (Adverse Analytical Finding) through to the sanction consequences and their return to training.
Importantly, the handbook outlines what resources are available to athletes during this difficult time and also ways they can take care of their physical and mental health.
The handbook was developed in partnership with the Athlete Advisory Group and includes valuable insights and stories from Australian sanctioned athletes who have been through the same process.