Anti-Doping
All athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean. The BMC believes in clean competition climbing and works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and our International Federation (IFSC) to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected and prevent doping. The use of performance-enhancing drugs and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of sport and undermines the integrity of clean athletes.
Anti-doping: the Big Picture
There are many organisations that work hard to protect sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for leading the collaborative world-wide campaign for clean sport. Established in 1999 as an independent agency and funded by both sport and governments, it manages the development of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code aims to harmonise all anti-doping policies, ensuring that athletes and athlete support personnel are treated fairly and consistently.
The aims of the Anti-Doping Code and WADA are to:
- Protect the Athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for Athletes worldwide, and
- Ensure harmonised, coordinated and effective anti-doping programmes at the international and national level with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping
UKAD is the national anti-doping agency for the UK, dedicated to protecting a culture of clean sport – it achieves this through implementing education and testing programmes, gathering and developing intelligence, and prosecuting those found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violations. UKAD is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through the implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy. Under the 2021 Code, an athlete may be classified as being “International-Level”, “National-Level” or a “Recreational Athlete” based on their competition level. Further information on these different categories is available on the UKAD website.
Know the risks with nutritional supplements
Athletes are strongly advised to be very cautious if they choose to take any supplement such as vitamin tablets, energy drinks or sport-nutrition formulas. This is because there is no guarantee that any supplement is free from banned substances.
All athletes are advised to:
- assess the need to use supplements by seeking advice from a medical professional or nutritionist on their need to use supplement products
- assess the risks associated with supplements and undertake thorough research of all supplement products they are considering taking
- assess the consequences to their careers – they could receive a four-year ban - before making a decision to use supplements.
Visit the UKAD website for further information including the Informed Sport programme, which provides a batch-testing service for supplement products.
Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
Athletes can obtain approval to use a prescribed banned substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition by applying for a TUE. They must be able to provide medical evidence to confirm their diagnosis and prescription, and reference that there are no reasonable alternative medications.
- International-level athletes (as defined by their International Federation) need to apply to their International Federation for a TUE
- Athletes competing at National level need to apply to UKAD for a TUE
TUEs approved by UKAD, unless stated otherwise, are valid at national level only. If an athlete is competing at international events, a UKAD TUE will not be valid unless it is first recognized by the relevant International Federation or Major Event Organisation. Athletes should notify the relevant body of this as soon as possible prior to competing.
Athletes listed under the ‘National’ category for their sport must apply for their TUE in advance. The ‘National’ category for TUEs is defined by UKAD by sport and can be found on UKAD’s website. Only in an emergency situation or where there will be a severe impact on health should treatment begin without the necessary approval. Athletes not listed in the ‘National’ category would only need to apply for a TUE retroactively should they be tested and their sample return an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF).
Support, useful advice and resources
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking The BMC (zoe@thebmc.co.uk), coaches and athlete support personnel, you may also contact UKAD directly, who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance.
Managing inadvertent doping risks
Anti-doping rules
The anti-doping rules for the BMC are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code, which governs anti-doping internationally. The anti-doping rules of the BMC are the UK Anti-Doping Rules, published by UK Anti-Doping, and amended from time to time. Check out the UK Anti-Doping Rules
The prohibited list
All banned substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List, which is updated at the beginning of every calendar year, but may also be updated throughout the year. Check out the latest Prohibited List on the WADA website.
Importance of checking medications
Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter) athletes must check to make sure it does not contain any 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.
FAQs
The BMC anti-doping rules apply to anyone in the BMC or Mountaineering Scotland who has agreed (whether in writing, by their conduct or by their participation in) to be bound by the rules for competitions or events organised under the competition rules of the:
- BMC;
- IFSC;
- UIAA;
- ISMF; or
- Any other body operating under or on behalf of any of the above organisations rules
Athlete Support Personnel, for example coaches, parents/guardians and physiotherapists, also have a number of responsibilities under the rules.
All athletes need to be aware of the principle of strict liability. This means that all athletes are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat. It is crucial that athletes check all medications are safe to take prior to use.
Athletes must undertake thorough internet research of any supplement products before use – including the name of the product and the ingredients/substances listed. Information discovered as a result should be further investigated and we advise athletes to keep evidence of their search.
The Code outlines eleven ADRVs. Athletes and athlete support personnel (ASP) may receive a ban from sport if any of the following ADRVs are committed:
- Returning a positive test
- Using, or attempting to use, a banned substance or method
- Refusal or failure to provide a sample when requested
- Tampering, or attempting to tamper, with any part of the testing process
- Possession of a banned substance or method
- Trafficking, or attempted trafficking, of any banned substance or method
- Administering, or attempted administering, of a banned substance or method to an athlete; or encouragement, aiding and/or covering up of any involvement in an ADRV
- Receiving any combination of three filing failures and/or missed tests in a time period of 12 months (for athletes who are part of the National Registered Testing Pool)
- Complicity
- Prohibited Association
- Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities
All eleven ADRVs apply to athletes. Only the ADRVs in bold apply to ASP.
Consequences are significant
Under the Code, a minimum four-year ban from all sport will apply to those who are found to be deliberately cheating and breaking the rules. The Code has little sympathy for carelessness – for inadvertent doping, athletes are more likely to face a two-year ban from sport.
All athletes, coaches and athlete support personnel need to make sure they have sufficient anti-doping knowledge to avoid committing an ADRV and receiving a ban from sport.
Athletes can be tested any time, any place. Testing can take place in-competition at events, or out-of-competition, in training venues, or even at an athlete’s home.
Testing is intelligence-led and risk-based, however it will always be conducted with ‘no advanced notice’.
Here is an outline of the Testing Process for a Urine Sample;
- Selection: an athlete is selected for doping control.
- Notification: a Chaperone or DCO will notify you to say you have been selected for testing and will show you their identification. You will be told your rights and responsibilities, asked to show your identification and then you need to sign the top part of the Doping Control Form to confirm you have been notified.
- Reporting: you will then be chaperoned (observed at all times) as you make your way to the Doping Control Station (DCS). This is where the testing will take place. You should report immediately to the DCS unless you request a delay for a permitted reason.
- Selecting Sample Collection Equipment: you should be given a choice of sample collection kits. Make sure the kit you select is sealed and has not been tampered with. This is important.
- Proving a Sample: when ready, you will be asked to wash your hands or wear gloves and then to provide your sample. The DCO, who will be of the same gender as you, will directly observe you providing your sample. You will be asked to remove/lift clothing above your chest and below your knees so the DCO has an unobstructed view.
- Splitting the Sample: you will need to provide a minimum of 90ml of urine. This may be done on more than one occasion (a partial sample) until you reach the required amount. Once you have 90ml or more, the DCO will ask you to split the sample between the A and B bottles, starting with the B bottle first. Again, you will be given a choice of A and B bottles and you should ensure these have not been tampered with. You should also check that the code on the kits matches.
- Sealing the Sample: once your sample has been split between the A and the B bottles you will be asked to seal them. Make sure you check and recheck that the tamper-evident bottle lids are securely fastened.
- Checking the Sample’s Concentration (Specific Gravity): for the lab to be able to analyse your sample it needs to be of a specific concentration. The DCO will test your sample to make sure it is within range. Should your sample not be in range, you may be asked to provide another sample.
- Verifying the Sample: you will need to complete the Doping Control Form and sign it to complete the process. Don’t forget to add any medications and/or supplements you have taken within the last seven days and consider allowing your sample to be used for research purposes too. Make sure you take your copy of the Doping Control form which you should keep.
Finally, don’t forget that your samples will be sent to a WADA Accredited Lab for analysis. Your A sample will be analysed, and your B sample will be stored securely. Samples can be stored for up to 10 years.
100% me - Supporting Athletes to be Clean
100% me is UK Anti-Doping’s education programme for athletes – designed to provide information resources, education sessions and general advice to athletes throughout their sporting careers. Find out more in the dedicated Athlete Zone of the UKAD website
100% me elite - Athlete Clean Sport App for smartphones
For essential anti-doping information download the Clean Sport App from iTunes, Google Play or Windows Live Store – the sport specific or the generic version.
**Check your medications on Global DRO**
Remember to check all medications on Global DRO where you can search by ingredients or brand name.
**Assess the risk of supplements on Informed Sport**
You can find information on supplements and ways of reducing the risks on Informed Sport.
**Register with UK Anti-Doping**
Visit UKAD’s website and register to keep up to date with the latest news.
For more information from UKAD:
Visit www.ukad.org.uk/athletes/100-me If you’re an athlete
Visit www.ukad.org.uk/coaches If you’re a coach
Visit www.ukad.org.uk/support-personnel If you’re Athlete Support Personnel
Visit www.ukad.org.uk/parents If you’re a parent
Help keep sport clean
We all have a responsibility to report doping in sport and help keep it clean. A 24-hour dedicated phone line, hosted by Crimestoppers, is ready to take your call if you have any suspicions or concerns about incidences of doping in sport. You can provide information in complete confidence by calling 08000 32 23 32 or via a secure website through the link here. All information is passed securely to UKAD’s intelligence unit for investigation.