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Extreme caution is recommended regarding supplement use. A number of positive tests have been attributed to the misuse of supplements, poor labeling or contamination of dietary supplements.

The use of supplements by athletes is a concern because in many countries the manufacturing and labeling of supplements may not follow strict rules, which may lead to a supplement containing an undeclared substance that is prohibited under anti-doping regulations. Pleading that a poorly labeled dietary supplement was taken is not an adequate defense in a doping hearing.

Risks of supplements include:

  • Manufacturing standards, which are often less strict when compared with medications. These lower standards often lead to supplement contamination with an undeclared prohibited substance, for example when manufacturing equipment isn't cleaned to the required standards and contains remnants of ingredients from a previous product.
  • Fake or low-quality products which may contain prohibited substances and be harmful to health.
  • Mislabeling of supplements with ingredients wrongly listed and prohibited substances not identified on the product label.
  • False claims that a particular supplement is endorsed by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) or that it is “safe for athletes”. Remember, ADOs do not certify supplements and the product label may contain misleading messaging.

Athletes should do a risk-benefit assessment if they are considering the use of supplements. The first step of such an assessment is to consider whether a “food-first” approach meets the athlete’s needs. Whenever possible, such assessment should be done with a support of a certified nutritionist or other qualified professional who is familiar with the global and IPSF Anti-Doping Rules.

Checking your supplements

If, after careful consideration, an athlete chooses to use supplements, they must take the necessary steps to minimize the risks associated with supplements. This includes:

  • Thorough research on the type and dose of the supplement, preferably with the advice of a certified nutritionist or other qualified professional who is familiar with Anti-Doping Rules.
  • Only selecting supplements that have been “batch-tested” by an independent company.
  • Remembering what supplement they take, keep some of it in case they get a positive result, and keep any proof of purchase and declare it on the Doping Control Form (DCF).

Remember, no supplement is 100% risk-free but athletes and athlete support personnel can take certain steps to minimize these risks.

Neither WADA nor the IPSF/NADO is involved in any supplement certification process and therefore do not certify or endorse manufacturers or their products. WADA and the IF/NADO do not control the quality or the claims of the supplements industry.

WADA prohibited list

 

The Prohibited List (List) identifies substances and methods prohibited in-competition, always and in particular sports. Substances and methods are classified by categories (e.g. steroids, stimulants, masking agents). The List is updated at least annually following an extensive consultation process facilitated by WADA.

It is each athlete’s responsibility to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his/her body and that no prohibited method is used.

The list can be checked in this website: World Anti-Doping Code | World Anti Doping Agency (wada-ama.org)

The List only contains the generic names of the pharmaceutical substances. The List does not contain brand names of the medications, which vary from country to country. Before taking any medication, an athlete should check with the prescribing physician that it does not contain a prohibited substance:

  1. Check that the generic name or International Non-proprietary Name (INN) of any active ingredient is not prohibited.
  2. Check that the medication does not contain any pharmaceutical substances that would fall within a general category that is prohibited. Many sections of the Prohibited List only contain a few examples and state that other substances with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect(s) are also prohibited.
  3. Be aware that intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50mL per 6-hour period are prohibited, regardless of the status of the substances.
  4. Be aware that since 1 January 2022, all injectable routes of administration will now be prohibited for glucocorticoids during the in-competition period. Note: Oral administration of glucocorticoids remains prohibited in-competition. Other routes of administration are not prohibited when used within the manufacturer’s licensed doses and therapeutic indications.

 

ATHLETE’S THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTION PROCESS – TUE

What is a therapeutic use exemption (TUE)?

Athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take medications or undergo procedures. If the medication or method an athlete is required to use to treat an illness or condition is prohibited as per the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List a TUE may give that athlete the authorization to use that substance or method while competing without invoking an anti-doping rule violation. Applications for TUEs are evaluated by a panel of physicians, the TUE Committee (TUEC) from the IPSF.

What do I need to obtain a TUE?

There are four criteria which ALL must be met:

  • The athlete has a clear diagnosed medical condition which requires treatment using a prohibited substance or method.
  • The therapeutic use of the substance will not, on the balance of probabilities produce significant enhancement of performance beyond the athlete’s normal state of health.
  • The prohibited substance or method is an indicated treatment for the medical condition, and there is no reasonable permitted therapeutic alternative.
  • The necessity to use that substance or method is not a consequence of the prior use (without a TUE), of a substance or method which was prohibited at the time of use.

How and when to apply for a TUE?

Athletes who are subject to anti-doping rules would need a TUE to take a prohibited substance or use a prohibited method. You should verify with the IPSF to know to whom you need to apply and if you can apply retroactively, send your questions at the email address: anti-doping@ipsfsports.org

  1. Check if the required medication or method you intend to take, or use is prohibited as per the WADA Prohibited List in the year you are competing.
  2. Inform your physician (s) that you are an Athlete bound to anti-doping rules. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM YOUR PHYSICIAN.
  3. You and your physician(s) should check the Prohibited List for the substance/method you are prescribed. If the substance/method is prohibited, discuss non-prohibited alternatives, if there are none, apply for a TUE. Remember Athletes have the ultimate responsibility. Contact your NADO or the IPSF anti-doping chair if you are having difficulties.
  4. Contact the IPSF anti-doping chair, Dr. Andrea Avila to determine your competition level and TUE application requirements.
    • If it is determined that you are an International-Level Athlete [Every athlete competing at the World Pole & Aerial Championships in every division and category] you must apply to the IPSF in advance, as soon as the need arises, unless there are emergency or exceptional circumstances.
    • For substances prohibited in-competition only, you should apply for a TUE at least 30 days before your next competition, unless one of the exceptions on retroactive TUEs apply.
    • If you already have a TUE granted by your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO), the IPSF automatically recognizes the TUE decisions. In such case, please notify the IPSF anti-doping chair that you have a TUE granted by your NADO.
    • If you are NOT an International-Level Athlete and you have been tested by your NATIONAL POLE SPORT FEDERATION, the IPSF recognizes a valid TUE granted by your NADO; unless you are required to apply for recognition of the TUE because you are competing in an international event.

How to apply for a retroactive TUE?

You may only apply retroactively for a TUE to the IPSF if:

  • You required emergency or urgent treatment of a medical condition.
  • There was insufficient time, opportunity or other exceptional circumstances that prevented you from submitting the TUE application, or having it evaluated, before getting tested.
  • You are a National Level Athlete (Athletes competing nationally in every competing division and category) who is not under the jurisdiction of the NADO and were tested.
  • You tested positive after using a substance Out-of-Competition that is only prohibited In-Competition.
Important note
Using a prohibited substance or method without a TUE could result in an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. In case an application for a retroactive TUE is necessary following sample collection, you are strongly advised to have a medical file prepared and ready to submit for evaluation.

How to apply to the IPSF for a TUE?

Electronic TUE form

Please complete the IPSF’s TUE Application Form. You will be required to add your medical documentation and pay for this. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact anti-doping@ipsfsports.org.

Your TUE application must be submitted in ENGLISH, with legible capital letters or typing.

The medical file must include:

  • A comprehensive medical history, including documentation from the original diagnosing physician(s) (where possible)
  • The results of all examinations, laboratory investigations and imaging studies relevant to the application.
  • An amount of £100 must be paid by the athlete for the documentation to be analyze by the TUEC.
  • Further additional requirements such as additional medical examinations, tests, imaging studies, etc. are at the responsibility of the Athlete.
  • Any TUE application that is not complete or legible will not be dealt with and will be returned for completion and re-submission.

To assist you and your doctor in providing the correct medical documentation, we suggest consulting the WADA’s Checklists for TUE applications for guidance and support, and TUE Physician Guidelines for guidance on specific common medical conditions, treatments, substances, etc.

Keep a complete copy of the TUE application form and all medical information submitted in support of your application, and proof that it has been sent.

What constitutes doping?

Is considered Doping as the occurrence of one or more anti-doping rule violations. Currently, there are 11 rules, that specify the circumstances that constitute a rule violation.

Is the responsibility of pole athletes as well as the athlete support personnel (Family members, partners, coach, medics, physiotherapist), to know what constitutes an anti-doping rule violation, as well as the prohibited substances and methods included in the prohibited list.

The 11 rules are:

Strict Liability

What does ‘Strict Liability’ mean?

  • The principle of strict liability applies to all athletes who compete in any sport with an anti-doping program. It means that athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance, or its metabolites or markers found to be present in their urine and/or blood sample collected during doping control, regardless of whether the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or method. Therefore, it is important to remember that it is each and every athlete’s ultimate responsibility to know what enters their body.
  • The rule which provides that principle, under Code Article 2.1 and Article 2.2, states that it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated by the Anti-Doping Organization to establish an anti-doping rule violation.

Whereabouts

What are testing pools and why are whereabouts important for clean sport?

Out-of-competition testing with no-advance notice is one of the most powerful means of deterrence and detection of doping. To support this type of testing, the IPSF has created testing pools as part of its testing program. In the mean to long term, certain athletes will be part of the IPSF’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and will be required to provide information on their whereabouts in ADAMS, WADA’s online anti-doping administration and management system. From 2025, the IPSF will create a pool that will include Target Testing Athletes based on the following criteria:

  • Athletes from countries who have large teams, and large competitions. These competitions usually make it more difficult for an athlete to go and represent their country at the World Championships, thus meaning a higher competitive spirit, and thus encouraging doping amongst those athletes who may not have qualified before to enable them to replace the incumbents.
  • Athletes from countries where the qualifying scores are identified to be particularly high. The IPSF judging system is standardized, and while there will most certainly be overlap between this group and the first group, we also believe that strangely high scoring countries should be investigated. This can be further filtered into the focus of out-of-competition testing – those athletes qualifying with very high scores, but then achieving low scores at the World Championships would be higher on the priority list for out-of-competition testing in order to determine whether doping had any role in their high qualifying score.
  • Athletes who qualify for their third (or more) consecutive World Championships – the pressure to remain at this level definitely takes a toll on the body, and thus the allure of doping may be higher amongst these athletes.
  • Athletes who compete regularly meaning athletes that has been compeeting in two consecutive editions of the World Pole & Aerial Championships and have been part of the podium, the pressure to remain at this level might increase the risk of use of banned substance.
  • Athletes in receipt of public funding
  • Athletes serving a period of Ineligibility or a Provisional Suspension
  • Athletes who were high priority for Testing before they retired from the sport and who now wish to return from retirement to active participation in the sport
  • Repeated failure to meet whereabouts requirements
  • Association with a third party (such as a team-mate, coach or doctor) with a history of involvement in doping
  • Reliable information from a third party, or intelligence developed by or shared with the Anti-Doping Organization

Aditionally, testing by Random Selection has been taking place since 2022 and will continue, since it can play an important deterrent role, as well as helping to protect the integrity of the sport. This pool will not be considered a RTP, but is the first step in the procees of having a more efficient anti-doping program.

How do athletes know they need to provide whereabouts?

All athletes will be informed in the mid to long term about the creation of a RTP by the IPSF. Those athletes included in the RTP will need to provide whereabouts in ADAMS and will be notified by the IPSF of their inclusion in a testing pool as well as what information exactly is required of them, how to use ADAMS, deadlines to submit this information and any consequences if the information required is not submitted.

What do RTP/TP athletes need to know?

Currently, the IPSF will work on education for athletes, athlete support personnel and coaches on RTP and whereabouts.

Consequences of doping in pole sport

The misuse of drugs can be harmful and dangerous to an athlete’s health and to other athletes competing in the sport. It affects greatly the integrity, image, and value of sport, whether the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance or not.

“To achieve integrity and fairness in sport, a commitment to clean sport is critical.”

Doping also has severe health consequences and has social, financial and even legal consequences. For an athlete, doping could mean the end of their sporting career, reputation and prospects in and out of sport.

  • The sanctions for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) can include:

    • Provisional Suspension. The athlete or other person is temporarily banned from participating in any competition or activity while waiting for the results management process to be complete or until the final decision is rendered.
    • The athlete or other person is not allowed to compete or participate in any other activity, such as training, coaching, or even access to funding. This period of ineligibility can be as long as 4 years or even life depending on the circumstances.
    • Disqualification of results. The athlete’s results during a particular period, competition or event are invalidated.
    • Public Disclosure. The IPSF or the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) informs the general public of the Anti-Doping Rule Violation

  • The health consequences to an athlete can include:

    • Physical health. Doping products may have negative side effects on health depending on the substance, the dosage and the consumption frequency.
    • Psychological health. Some doping substances may have an impact on the athlete’s mental health. Anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders or psychosis are direct consequences from doping.

  • Some of social consequences of doping include:

    • Damage to reputation and image. This can be permanent with media attention, furthermore, future clean performances can be met with skepticism.
    • Damage to future career prospects.
    • Isolation from peers and sport.
    • Damaged relationships with friends and family.
    • Effects on emotional and psychological well-being.
    • Loss of standing, fame, respect and credibility.

  • The financial consequences of doping can include:

    • Fines that IPSF may have. Including costs associated with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
    • Loss of income/financial support, such as government funding, other forms of financial support and by not participating in the competitions. Furthermore, loss of financial support due to withdrawal of sponsor.
    • Requirement to reimburse sponsor, if included in the contract.
    • Reimbursement of prize money.
    • Impact of damaged reputation on future career prospects.

Testing procedures

The aim of testing is to protect clean athletes through the detection and deterrence of doping.

Any athlete under the testing jurisdiction of the IPSF may be tested at any time, with no advance notice, in- or out-of-competition, and be required to provide a urine sample.

Sample Collection Process:

  • During the World Pole & Aerial Championship, an athlete can be selected for testing at any time in the venue.

  • A Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone will notify the athlete of their selection and outline their rights and responsibilities.

  • The athlete should report to the doping control station immediately after being notified. The DCO may allow a delay in reporting for a valid reason.

  • The athlete is given a choice of individually sealed sample collection vessels and kits to choose from.

  • They must inspect the equipment and verify the sample code numbers.

    • Providing the sample: The athlete will be asked to provide the sample under the direct observation of a DCO or witnessing chaperone of the same gender.
    • Volume: A minimum 90mL is required for urine samples. If the first sample is not 90mL, the athlete may be asked to wait and provide an additional sample.
    • Splitting the sample: The athlete will split their sample into A and B bottles.
    • Sealing the samples: The athlete will seal the A and B bottles in accordance with the DCO’s instructions.
    • Measuring specific gravity: The DCO will measure the specific gravity of the sample to ensure it is not too dilute to analyze. If it is too dilute, the athlete may be asked to provide additional samples.

Athlete's rights during the sample collection process

  • The athlete has the right to see the identification of the Doping Control Officer (DCO).

  • The athlete has the right to request additional information about the sample collection process, about the authority under which the sample collection will be carried out, and about the type of sample collected. 

  • The athlete has the right to hydrate.

  • The athlete has the right to be accompanied by a repreentative and, if available, an interpreter.

  • The athlete has the right to request a delay in reporting to the doping contrl station for valid reasons.

  • The athlete has the right to request modificationsfor an impairment that they may have.

  • The athlete has the right to be informed of their rights and responsibilites.

  • The athlete has the right to receive a copy of the records of the process.

  • The athlete has the right to further protections if they are classified as a "protected person" due to their age or lacj of legal capacity.

  • Requires and attend the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding)

Further information

For further information, please check the following video: World Anti-Doping Agency - The Doping Control Process for Athletes (youtube.com)

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