Introduction
Like any sport, in particular swimming, we all havetobealerttothe dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. It is important that our squad (02 Thurrock swimmingclub)isawareoftheanti-dopinglawsadoptedby Britishswimming. Swimmers and parents, have to ensure that they have knowledge of Doping control in order that they are responsible to ensure that the swimmers are clean.
The ASA operates under:
TheWorld Anti-DopingAgency Code (WADA)
FederationInternationale deNatation(FINA)DopingProtocols
The AmateurSwimmingFederationof Great Britain(ASFGB)DopingControlRulesProtocols
Theserulesgovernallcompetitiveswimmers,irrespectiveofage. Assuch, anyregistered competitorcouldbedrug-tested,thoughitwouldbe unusualfor veryyoung competitors tobetested.
Anyonereachingthe National AgeGroup Championships in swimming could be selected randomly foratest,indeedswimmersover16 whoreachtheleveloftheWorldClassprogrammemayalsobetestedawayfromcompetition atany time.
If a swimmer is selected by a doctor and being requested to supply a urine sample for testing purposes. Your swimming coach or a team manager, male or female dependent, will always be present. After the sample is given the vessel will be signed by the swimmer as proof. Testing is likely at all National competitions.
Most peoplethinkofsports’dope testingasthesearchforperformance enhancingsteroid use byathletes.
However,itisveryimportantforclubmemberstobeawarethatfortheavoidanceofdoubt,theoffenceofdopingisa'strictliability'offence.Thismeansthatitisnotnecessarytoproveanyintentiononthepartofanathletetocommitadopingoffence.
Themerepresenceinthebodyofabannedsubstanceautomaticallytriggersthedecisiontofindtheathleteguilty.
Itmustalsobestressedthatignoranceisnotadefenceifapositivetestwereto occur asaresultofaccidentalorinadvertentconsumptionofaprohibitedsubstance.
Allmembersoftheclubshouldthereforebeawareofthefollowing:
- Itiseachswimmer’spersonaldutytoensurethatnoprohibitedsubstanceentershis/herbody.
- Swimmersareresponsibleforanyprohibitedsubstancefoundtobepresentintheirbodilyspecimens-sotakeresponsibilityforwhatyouconsumeanduse.
- Swimmersshouldensurethateachpersonfromwhomyoutakeadvice(includingmedicalpersonnel)isacquaintedwiththeprovisionsoftheAnti-DopingLaws(includinganysubsequentamendments).
- SwimmersshouldensurethatanymedicaltreatmentdoesnotinfringetheAnti-DopingLaws.
- SwimmersshouldalsobeawarethatuponreceivingarequestfromBritish Swimmingoradesignatedrepresentative;theymustmakethemselvesavailableforandsubmittoDopingControlatanytime,whetherinoroutofcompetition.
‘Accidental’takingofaBannedSubstance
Thereisasmallbutveryrealriskthatathletescouldtestpositivetoabannedsubstanceasaresultoftakingitinadvertently,andtherearethreemainareasthatcouldaffectthe‘innocent’swimmer:
- AsthmaMedicationandDopingControl
SomeofourmembersneedtotakeAsthmamedicationandthekeyistoensurethatanysuchmedication isonly takenbyinhaler.
Please find enclosed in this document a useful overview on inhalers.
If you have to take a banned substance for a legitimate medical condition you should first check with your Doctor to see if there are any permitted alternative treatments or medications. If this is not possible, a Therapeutic Use
Exemption (TUE)is requiredinordertotake approved medications.
Thereasonwhydeclarationofasthmaissoimportantisthatthebeta agonistsandsteroidsdrugscan enhanceperformanceifusedbyanathlete without Asthma.
Therefore, to avoidinfringingDopingControlregulations,swimmersattendingASAorBritishSwimmingnationalevents,suchasBritishGasNationalAgeGroups, must declare inhaler use annually to the ASA together with thedetails of the medication that they are taking using theBritish SwimmingMedical Declaration Form. You also need to keep this information up-to-date and any subsequent changes in medication should also be notified. Inaddition, any swimmer tested at doping control MUST declare any asthmamedicationtakenatthetimeofthetest.
Remember:itisyour responsibilityas aswimmer and a parent tokeeptheASAinformed.
- Overthecountereverydaymedications
Some‘overthecounter’ medicationsfor commonailments suchascolds,coughsandhayfevercanalsocauseyoutofailatest.
Thereasonisthatmanyoftheseoverthecounterremedies(evenherbalremedies)containephedrine,pseudoephedrine,phenylephrine or Phenylpropanolamine, whichare all classed asstimulants. Othercures fordiarrhoea orpaincancontain opioidssuchasmorphine.
Itisthereforerecommendedthat athletesdo NOTtakecoldcurescontainingany ofthese substances.
Soifyou(oryourchildswimmer)haveacold,pleasereadthepacket beforeadministeringanything!Even“LEMSIP”containsphenylephrine!
- DietarySupplementsandsportsfoods
Frompressreports,itseemsmanyofthenotoriouspositivedrugtestsinvarioussportscanbetracedtodietarysupplements.
Independentresearchhasshownthatupto10%ofnutritionalsupplementtestedcontainedenoughillegalsubstancestotriggerapositivedrugtest. Lackofregulationofqualitycontrolandlabellingofproductsinthe supplementindustrymakesitimpossibletoidentifysupplementsandsportsfoodsthatareriskfree.
Theadvicetoparentsandswimmersthereforeisthatdietaryandnutritionalsupplementsshouldnotbetaken,fullstop.
If you are in doubt, seek advice.
The following links highlight useful guides and data to Anti-Doping rules and regulations. The 100%me website is a website that is used mainly by young athletes and therefore an extremely useful and educational website for our O2 swimmers who want to be competitive athletes and safeguard themselves to the potential dangers involved with certain substances.
UsefulLinks
BritishSwimmingAnti-DopingRulescanbeviewedat
WorldAnti-DopingAgency(WADA)
FederationInternationaledeNatation(FINA)DopingProtocols
Prohibited list
Anti-Doping-Organizations/International-Standards/Prohibited-List/
UKAnti-Doping
Global Drug Reference Online; an online service provided by UK Sport thatprovides information about which drugs and other substances are prohibitedunder the rules of sport. It will also tell you the active ingredients and whetheritis cleared for use - but even then, you should check that the ingredients listed ontheproductmatchthoserecordedbythedatabase.
100%me
YoucanalsoJointhe100%mecommunityonFacebook
BritishSwimmingMedicalDeclarationForm
TherapeuticUseExemptionForm:
02 Doping Control Data Paul Hayes Lead CoachPage 1