Prohibited Association is one of the 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations. It aims to prevent people who have broken anti-doping rules from negatively influencing athletes and others in sport.
Under Prohibited Association, athletes and other members of sport are not allowed to knowingly associate with anyone in a professional or sport-related context who is serving an anti-doping sanction. This also applies to associating with anyone who has been found guilty of a criminal or disciplinary offence equivalent to a doping violation, for example the sale or supply of performance enhancing drugs.
Prohibited Association applies to all people bound by a sport’s anti-doping policy, such as athletes, coaches, support staff, officials and administrators. Anyone who commits Prohibited Association risks a ban of up to 2 years.
Association types
Examples of association types that are prohibited include:
- Receiving coaching
- Obtaining therapy
- Obtaining training
- Obtaining treatment or prescriptions
- Obtaining nutrition or medical advice
- Obtaining advice regarding strategy or technique
- Allowing the athlete support person to serve as an agent or representative.
Prohibited Association applies to interactions that are in-person and online, including online coaching seminars or online exercise programs.
Protect yourself
All athletes and members of sport should be aware of who they are associating with in a professional or sports-related capacity, by:
- Checking the list of people currently serving sanctions in Australia.
- Checking the Prohibited Association List on the World Anti-Doping Agency website.
- Checking the sanction list on the person’s National Anti-Doping Organisation website or International Federation (for example, if they are a foreign national competing in Australia).
- Googling any new trainers or coaches for any association with performance enhancing drugs.
- Contacting us on the Safe Sport Hotline 1800 161 361.
Prohibited Association factsheet
