Anti-Doping

Approved by:   Context Anti-doping refers to the efforts and rules in place to prevent athletes (you) from using banned substances or methods to gain an unfair advantage. The goal is to ensure fair competition and protect the integrity of sports. You must follow strict rules and regulations regarding the use of medications, supplements, and treatments. Anti-doping organisations, such as the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), enforce these rules and impose penalties on athletes who violate them. Athletes who reach higher performance levels are more likely to be subject to anti-doping testing. However, they can be randomly tested at any age, at any time, or in any place. If an athlete is under 18, they are considered a minor and will be subject to a modified process. For more information, see our lesson ‘How Drug Testing Works’.   Why Do Some Athletes Dope? Despite well-publicised cases in the media showing the shame that follows a ban and the catastrophic effect that the resulting time away from sport can have on a career, some athletes are not deterred. Understanding the various factors that contribute to an athlete’s decision to dope can help you stay on the right path, i.e., as a clean, respected athlete: They may see others around them using banned substances and give in to peer pressure, i.e. being easily influenced/led by others can result in them following the crowd/FOMO. An overwhelming need for success/fame might create a ‘win at all cost’ attitude. They may see taking a banned substance as their only chance of achieving their desired performance. They may experience external pressures to succeed from coaches, sponsors, or associations and may even be encouraged to dope by an unethical coach, for example. They may believe the risk of detection to be small and that they won't get caught. Their environment may be one where it's easy to access banned substances. They might not have been adequately educated to know that what they are doing is violating the rules. They might not have been adequately educated to understand the potential dangers to health from doping. Feelings of desperation, e.g. following an injury, may override their ability to make appropriately considered decisions.   The Power of Influence How you view doping will depend on your attitude and beliefs. These are formed from what you see, read, or hear, especially from others who are important to you or influential, e.g., training partners, coaches, and parents. And then, of course, there are athletes you look up to or envy who can influence your views, especially via social media.   Influence can be powerful. How those around you react to, for example, news of a banned athlete can influence you greatly. If they show they disapprove and point out the clear morality issues, i.e., cheating denies clean athletes what should rightfully be theirs, they are sending out a clear message to you that they have no respect for drug cheats. Surrounding yourself with positive influences like this can ensure your attitudes and beliefs are strong enough to override peer pressure and temptation. As young adults, we will always want to fit in, and if we are not careful, this can be very dangerous and damaging to our belief systems. Surround yourself with the right people...    Supplement Use Believing supplements are needed to improve performance adds a significant risk if you are or are hoping to compete at a high level. Research now shows a convincing link between supplement use (even legal ones) and doping. Some shocking and recent stats from an Australian report seem to demonstrate this clearly: "Anti-doping rule violations due to supplements accounted for a third of positive doping tests in Australia between 2016-2019…." To read this report, click here (4-minute read). Read more about the risks due to contamination in our Supplements: The Risks lesson. Understand that these risks are REAL...  The Risks If caught, you will be banned from sport. A ban could destroy your career. You will lose the credibility and respect you once had as an athlete... You will lose friends. You will devastate and let down everyone who has backed and supported you. You will have let down your parents, who put everything on the line for you. They will face the shame of everyone knowing their child was a cheat.  Sponsorships will be taken away, and opportunities in the future will likely disappear. You could seriously and even permanently damage your health...   Health implications There are now serious concerns among experts about the health risks associated with using performance-enhancing substances. University and college athletes are at particular risk as their bodies are still growing and developing. The governing body, UK Anti Doping (UKAD), warns athletes of the health risks on their website and in the diagram below. Possible Side Effects Of Performance-Enhancing Drugs (UKAD) Risks specifically emphasised are those to your heart, blood vessels, etc... this is serious stuff. Another real risk is the possibility of extensive and permanent disruption of normal sexual functions and fertility... Still keen to dope? What You Can Do Most athletes compete fairly and uphold the principles of integrity and fair play. We must ensure it stays this way to protect the sports we love. There are several things that you can do and consider to ensure your own sporting career stays on the right path: Role models - Surround yourself with positive role models. Education - Educate yourself about doping rules and protocols, how testing is implemented, and the health risks. Shame - Imagine how it would feel to be known as a doper and a cheat. Parents and friends - Take a minute to imagine what getting caught doping would do to your relationship with your parents and friends... External performance enhancers are unnecessary - Understand the connection between supplement use and doping and know that hard work, dedication, good nutrition, and good sleep habits are the true keys to success. You don't need supplements to succeed, but if you decide to use them, you must know how to mitigate the risks properly. Cheats - No one likes a cheat. Trust - Trust your training, believe in your skills, and have confidence in yourself. True satisfaction will come from achieving your goals through your own merit. Hard work always pays off one way or another. Remember, if someone suspects you're doping, they are entitled to report you... anonymously... think about that for a moment.   Evidence-Based Research Our content is supported by: Blank, C., Leichtfried, V., Schaiter, R., Fürhapter, C., Müller, D. and Schobersberger, W., 2015. Doping in sports: Knowledge and attitudes among parents of Austrian junior athletes. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 25(1), pp.116-124. (View Paper) Hurst, P., Ng, P.Y., Under, L. and Fuggle, C., 2024. Dietary supplement use is related to doping intention via doping attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Performance Enhancement & Health, p.100278. (View Paper) Sport Integrity Matters, 2022. 'Reaching Supplement Zero', Sport Integrity Matters, September, viewed October 2023.  (View Paper)

Approved by: Context The drug testing procedure checks athletes of almost any age or ability for the presence of prohibited substances in their bodies. It is carried out by trained and authorised doping control personnel who must show their official identification when they first approach an athlete and before commencing testing. How the Process Works The testing process will be carried out in a set way:   Selection: Athletes are randomly chosen or targeted for testing. They are notified and asked to provide a urine or blood sample for analysis. Sample Collection: Athletes go to a designated testing location where trained personnel collect their urine or blood sample. The collection process is constantly supervised to ensure integrity. That's right, they watch you piss... Sample Analysis: The collected samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. Highly specialised technicians use advanced techniques to test for the presence of banned substances or their metabolites. Laboratory Analysis: The samples undergo thorough analysis using methods such as chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect even trace amounts of prohibited substances. Results and Reporting: Once the analysis is complete, the laboratory provides the results to the relevant anti-doping organisation. The results are then reported to the athletes and their governing bodies. Follow-up Actions: Depending on the test results, further actions may be taken. If athletes test positive for a banned substance, they may face sanctions, such as suspensions, disqualifications, or other penalties.   Know What to Expect If you aim to compete at a higher level, ensure you understand how the testing process works. Importantly, understand what will happen during the sample collection process before you are approached for your first test, as this can be a stressful and confusing experience for the unprepared. We recommend you read UKAD's testing process page or watch the video below to fully understand what to expect.    Understand that tests will always be unannounced… it could happen to any athlete at any time. Ensure you know your rights, especially regarding your right to have a representative present during the entire process. For more information, read WADA's athlete's anti-doping rights page.   For Athletes Under 18 If you are under 18, you are considered a minor and will be subject to a modified process that requires an athlete representative to be present at all times, as described on the UKAD testing process for minors page.   Take Home Points Become familiar with the testing process and ensure you understand it before you face your first test.  Know that testing can happen at any competition, training session, or at home… without warning. You are entitled to have a representative present during the entire process, such as a team manager or parent. If you are under 18, an adult representative must be present throughout the entire process.

Approved by: Context It's difficult to persuade you not to go down the supplement route when you're surrounded by others using them and social media influencers promoting their supplement routines (these athletes are literally being paid to promote these products). This intense social pressure to conform and to follow the crowd can be hard to resist. But you have to realise that no supplement is 100% safe.  The reality is that supplements can pose a genuine risk to your health, career and reputation. As well as the various health issues associated with their use, especially when taken excessively or in combination with other substances, supplements can be a risky choice in terms of anti-doping regulations, as contamination is a very real risk.   Contamination and Mislabelling Supplements, whether dietary or performance-enhancing, are often produced in factories that manufacture other products that can contain banned substances. This means that cross-contamination can occur and, as supplements are not strictly regulated like medicines, it's hard to guarantee the absence of banned substances or their safety. Mislabelling can also be problematic, with some containing undisclosed ingredients, including banned substances. Several high-profile cases have involved well-known athletes taking supplements they believed were acceptable and harmless, only to fail a drug test due to contamination or mislabelling. To highlight the risks, a recent report found that anti-doping rule violations due to supplements accounted for a third of positive doping tests in Australia between 2016 and 2019. This is insane. To read the report, click here (4-minute read).   Remember, your non-athlete friends, mates who go to the gym, or online influencers will probably not be competing athletes and affected by anti-doping regulations like you are. Their careers and reputations won't be on the line if they take a contaminated/mislabelled supplement... but yours is. We highly recommend you read UKAD's managing supplement risks page, where you'll find up-to-date information and guidance. Supplement Use Leading to Doping Another less obvious but seemingly significant risk is that athletes who depend on supplements can acquire a belief that substances are necessary for them to perform well or improve rather than seeing training combined with good nutrition, sleep, etc., as their route to success. More often than not, unless you have perfect sleep, recovery, nutrition, etc... supplements can be a big fat waste of money. A recent study supporting this claim found athletes who took dietary supplements to be 2.5 times more likely to dope!  What You CAN Do Firstly, understand that all your dietary requirements as an athlete can come from a well-balanced healthy diet and appropriate hydration. To assess whether you genuinely need a supplement, seek guidance from a certified sports nutritionist or GP. If you have a nutritional deficiency, both should be able to provide advice regarding supplement alternatives, i.e. food sources of the required nutrient. Secondly, ensure you fully understand that you are 100% accountable for doping… the buck stops with YOU. The 100% Me programme has been designed to help athletes navigate the ‘clean sport’ world. Click here for more information. ‘Accidental’ doping is very hard to prove… in other words, you'll be unlikely to argue your case successfully. Not using supplements removes this risk entirely. Or, failing that, ensure you only ever use informed sport-tested supplements and know the processes for removing risk...   If you do decide to use supplements...   Please ONLY use reputable brands that have undergone rigorous testing, i.e., have the INFORMED SPORT logo. Their certified brands have been batch-tested for banned substances.    ONLY EVER BUY PRODUCTS WITH THIS LOGO 👇 Visit UKAD website   IMPORTANT: Batch testing reduces the risk of contamination but does not remove it. Take Home Points Prioritise your sleep, nutrition and recovery before considering spending money on supplements Know the risks of supplement use in relation to clean sports and anti-doping. There is no guarantee that a supplement won't contain a banned substance due to contamination or mislabeling. Consult a certified sports nutritionist to assess whether you need a supplement and for guidance about supplement alternatives. If you do decide to use supplements, ONLY use reputable brands that have undergone rigorous testing, i.e., have the INFORMED SPORT logo. The UKAD website provides everything you need to know as an athlete. Evidence-Based Research   Our content is supported by: Hurst, P., Schiphof-Godart, L., Kavussanu, M., Barkoukis, V., Petróczi, A. and Ring, C., 2023. Are dietary supplement users more likely to dope than non-users?: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 117, p.104077. (View Paper) Sport Integrity Matters, 2022. 'Reaching Supplement Zero', Sport Integrity Matters, September, viewed October 2023.  (View Paper)

Approved by: Context We've compiled our top tips to help you start clean and stay clean: Nutrition Obtain all of your nutritional and recovery requirements from your diet.  A well-balanced, healthy diet, hydration, rest, and recovery WILL optimise performance naturally.  Learn about the risks associated with supplement use and commit to taking the safer supplement-free route.   Education Start understanding the anti-doping rules ASAP. Educate yourself about the principles of clean sport, the risks and consequences of doping, and the importance of fair competition and integrity. The 100% Me programme has been specifically designed to help athletes navigate the world of ‘clean sport’. Click HERE for more information. If you don't know, ask questions. Always share any experiences or pressures you may have encountered. Ensure you fully understand that, ultimately, YOU are 100% responsible for what goes into your body… ‘excuses’ will be irrelevant if you fail a test. Medication Understand that all medications, prescribed or bought over the counter, may contain prohibited substances… even simple flu remedies! UKAD has a good page about this on its website Click HERE. Get into the habit of checking medications/prescriptions using the Global DRO search tool. Click HERE. Role Models Choose your role models wisely. Those who promote clean sports values, demonstrate sportsmanship, and emphasise the importance of playing by the rules are the ones to be around and look up to. Hard Work and Dedication Focus on natural ability, hard work, dedication, and performance-enhancing lifestyle choices rather than shortcuts or substances. Professional Guidance: If necessary, seek guidance from qualified sports nutritionists or healthcare professionals to ensure your nutritional needs are met through safe and legal means. Stay Informed Stay updated on anti-doping policies, rule changes, and educational resources provided by relevant sports organisations. Everything you'll need to know can be found here on the UKAD website. If, after reading our warnings, you are still prepared to use supplements, always use products certified by Informed Sport and seek professional advice if you have any doubts about their safety. ONLY EVER BUY PRODUCTS WITH THIS LOGO Evidence-Based Research Our content is supported by:  Blank, C., Leichtfried, V., Schaiter, R., Fürhapter, C., Müller, D. and Schobersberger, W., 2015. Doping in sports: Knowledge and attitudes among parents of a Austrian junior athletes. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 25(1), pp.116-124. (View Paper)

Approved by: Useful links 👇 Supplements info Medication Checker The Prohibited List 100% Me - Education on Anti-Doping and clean sports specifically for athletes. Anti Doping Rules/Violations - Learn what you can and CAN’T do. Drug Testing - How it works, what’s involved etc. World Anti Doping Agency (WADA)