Anti-Doping Policy

By Beth | December 21, 2020 |

Anti-Doping Policy

Table Tennis Wales is firmly against drug misuse and believes that all players have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors are clean. The use of performance-enhancing drugs and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of sport and undermines the integrity of clean athletes.

Table Tennis Wales has adopted the UK Anti-Doping Rules. If you are a member of Table Tennis Wales, then the anti-doping rules apply to you regardless of your level of participation. Table Tennis Wales will fully assist with any investigations carried out by UK Anti-Doping, World Anti-Doping Agency, ITTF or other bodies.

What is anti-doping?

If you are involved in sport, either as an athlete, athlete support personnel or sports administrator then you will have anti-doping responsibilities that you need to be aware of. Failing to abide by the values of clean sport or the Anti-Doping Rules (if they apply to you) could mean severe consequences for your sporting future or career.

UK Anti-Doping

UK Anti-Doping is the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation responsible for protecting clean sport in the UK. They ensure that sports bodies in the UK comply with the World Anti-Doping Code so that athletes can compete in the true spirit of the sport.  You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules here

It is important that all athletes are aware of the UK Anti-Doping Rules so that success can be achieved in a clean sport.  One of UKAD’s responsibilities is the management of anti-doping rule violations committed by athletes or athlete support personnel.

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100% me – supporting athletes to be clean

100% me is UK Anti-Doping’s prevention programme and is designed to help you throughout your sporting journey. 100% me supports, informs and educates athletes throughout their careers by providing anti-doping advice and guidance.  It is important that you are aware of the anti-doping rules and what will happen if you are to be tested by Doping Control. You can find more about 100% me here

Doping Control

You should feel prepared when notified that you are to be tested by Doping Control. If you are selected for testing, you should take a representative with you so they can support you. You should know your rights and responsibilities, including what may happen if you are unable to provide a sample.

UK Anti-Doping recommends that you follow your normal hydration routines and that you follow the instructions given by the Doping Control Officer. You should be prepared to provide details of any substances you have taken – this needs to be written on the Doping Control form. This is your test and your sample. Find out more about testing and your rights and responsibilities in the Athlete Zone.

What is strict liability?

As an athlete, one of the most important things to be aware of is the principle of strict liability. This means that you are personally responsible for any banned substance found in your system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not you had an intention to cheat.

Prohibited List

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for the preparation and publication of the list of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport, known as the Prohibited List.  Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter) you must check it for banned substances. Medications can be checked online at Global DRO. It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country.  You can find the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited list here.

Know the risk with using nutritional supplements

All athletes are advised to assess the need for the use of supplements and to assess the risk of using any nutrition formulas, energy drinks etc. as there is no guarantee that any supplement is free from banned substances.  See the Supplement Hub section of the UKAD website to read more about the risks of supplements and to get advice in this area.

Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) if required

If you need to use a banned substance or method to treat a genuine medical condition, and there are no reasonable alternatives, you may have to apply for a TUE. You can find out more about whether you need a TUE and how to apply for one (including emergency TUE) on the About TUEs section of the UKAD website.

Understand what happens in a test (also known as Doping Control)

You should feel prepared when notified that you are to be tested by Doping Control. If you are selected for testing, you should take a representative with you so they can support you. You should know your rights and responsibilities, including what may happen if you are unable to provide a sample.

UK Anti-Doping recommends that you follow your normal hydration routines and that you follow the instructions given by the Doping Control Officer. You should be prepared to provide details of any substances you have taken – this needs to be written on the Doping Control form. This is your test and your sample. Find out more about testing and your rights and responsibilities in the Athlete Zone.

‘Protect Your Sport’

We all have a responsibility to report doping in sport and help keep it clean.  The UK Anti-Doping ‘Protect Your Sport’ campaign aims to encourage more people to come forward and share their concerns about doping in sport.

You can share your concerns via WhatsApp (07587 634711), email protectyoursport@reportdoping.com), online (search: Protect Your Sport) or by phone (08000 32 23 32). Protect Your Sport is available to listen and support those who want to speak out, with confidence, and in confidence.

For more information from UK Anti-Doping:

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