Anti-Doping
Tennis Ireland Anti-Doping Policy
Tennis Ireland has adopted the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Rules which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.
The policy of Tennis Ireland is that doping is contrary to the spirit of FAIR PLAY and all players have a responsibility to ensure that tennis is free of doping.
2023 Prohibited List
WADA recently released the 2023 WADA Prohibited List in September 2022. The 2023 List includes several changes that players, parents and support personnel should be aware of.
The full published prohibited list for 2023 can be viewed here: 2023_Prohibited_List
For more information, see here: https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-publishes-2023-prohibited-list
Tramadol
Major Modification concerning tramadol for 2024
It should be noted that, on the 23rd September, WADA’s Executive Committee also endorsed the recommendation, by the List Expert Advisory Group, to prohibit the narcotic tramadol in competition, effective 1 January 2024.
The delay in implementation is to provide an additional year for broad communication and education of athletes, their entourage and medical personnel so that there is a better understanding of the practical implementation of tramadol prohibition in competition.
Irish Anti-Doping Rule Violations
On January 1st 2021, a revision version of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules will come into effect. Please find below a copy of the 2021 Irish Anti-Doping Rules.
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
- Presence of a Prohibited Substance in an Athlete’s Sample
- Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method
- Refusing or failing to do a drug test after notification
- Committing Three Whereabouts Failures (Filing Failures or Missed Tests) in 12 months
- Tampering
- Possession of Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods
- Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
- Administration to an Athlete of any Prohibited Method or Prohibited Substance; assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, covering up
- Complicity or Attempted Complicity – Involvement in an ADRV committed by another person, such as helping to cover up that ADRV or avoid detection, will be sanctioned in the same way as that violation.
- Prohibited Association -Associating with a person such as a coach, doctor or physio who has been found guilty of an ADRV or equivalent offence to a doping violation will be sanctioned with a ban of up to 2 years.
- Protection of Whistle-blowers – it is an ADRV to threaten another person or to discourage that person from reporting to authorities of information relating to an ADRV, non-compliance with the Code or other doping activity, or to retaliate against another person for doing so.
Consequences of Doping
If a player tests positive they are subject to a minimum suspension of four years from all sports.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
TUE permits players to use a prohibited substance or method if the substance or method is medically required. Players can only obtain a TUE if there is no unfair advantage from taking the substance or using the method.
Criteria for determining whether a TUE is granted are defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
For further information on TUEs, please see here: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/athlete-zone/athlete-zone/therapeutic-use-exemptions
Checking your Medications
It is important that players, parents, coaches and doctors are up to date with the 2023 prohibited list linked above.
Players must ensure that they check all of their over the counter and prescription medication. All medications purchased in Ireland must be checked using the new Sport Ireland website: https://medcheck.sportireland.ie/
Medications purchased in Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom can be checked on https://globaldro.com/Home
For information on managing the risk of using supplements or herbal remedies, please see here: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/athlete-zone/supplements-and-herbal-remedies
Sport Ireland Anti-Doping eLearning Course
Tennis Ireland requires all players competing on tour to complete the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping eLearning Course on an annual basis.
This course can be accessed here: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/education-zone/education-zone/sport-ireland-anti-doping-elearning
Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Workshops
Tennis Ireland also requires players who are competing on tour or in Davis or Billie Jean King Cup events to complete one Anti-Doping workshop each year. This will be organised by Tennis Ireland through Sport Ireland in order to educate players and coaches about anti-doping rules, prohibited substances TUEs etc.
Educational Resources:
Sport Ireland: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping
WADA: https://www.wada-ama.org/en
WADA Play True Quiz: https://quiz.wada-ama.org/
The quiz is an interactive game that tests players’ knowledge about anti-doping.
ITF Anti-Doping App:
Players and coaches should download the ‘Tennis Anti-Doping’ app for android or iphone which contains the latest information with regards to prohibited substances, key changes and news for players regarding anti-doping.
What happens during a drug test: https://www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping/education-zone/education-zone/what-happens-in-a-drug-test