Download pdf - SANCTIONS ARE CHANGINGTHE FA ANTI-DOPING · The FA Anti-Doping Programme The FA’s Anti-Doping Regulations are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (2015 Code), which governs

THE FAANTI-DOPING PROGRAMME

For more information please visit www.TheFA.com/anti-doping

From the 2015/16 season breaking the rules could lead to a four year ban

THE ANTI-DOPING SANCTIONS ARE

CHANGING

9970 FA Anti-Doping Sanctions poster_v4.indd 1 09/06/2015 12:43

A SHORT GUIDE TO THE FA ANTI-DOPING REGULATIONS

The FA Anti-Doping Programme

1. Introduction 3

2. The FA Anti-Doping Regulations 4

3. What are the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)? 5

4. Managing Inadvertent Doping Risks 7

5. Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) 9

6. Understand What Happens at a Test (Doping Control) 10

7. Know Where to Look for Support and Advice 11

8. Contact Details 12

CONTENTS

2


Please note that this document is not intended to be definitive and does not replace or alter the Anti-Doping Regulations (or Social Drugs Policy Regulations where these are referred to). All Participants* are subject to the terms of those Regulations, which can be found at www.TheFA.com/anti-doping. In the event of any inconsistency between this guidance and The FA’s Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations apply.

All footballers have the right to play football knowing that they, their team-mates and the opposition, have not been using banned substances (which are referred to as “Prohibited Substances” in the Anti-Doping Regulations).

The FA supports drug free football and works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to ensure that the integrity of football is protected.

The use of banned substances, particularly performance-enhancing drugs, and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of football and undermines the integrity of clean footballers.

* Participant means an Affiliated Association, Competition, Club, Club Official, Intermediary, Player, Official, Match Official, Management Committee Member, Member or Employee of an affiliated Club and all such persons who are from time to time participating in any activity sanctioned either directly or indirectly by The FA.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this document is to help to explain The FA Anti-Doping Regulations, as well as reinforce key Anti-Doping messages for those involved in football.

3


The FA’s Anti-Doping Regulations are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (2015 Code), which governs anti-doping internationally.

Some points to note in the Anti-Doping Regulations are:

o A positive test for any banned substance, including a Social Drug, on a match day is a breach of The FA’s Anti-Doping regulations and can lead to a two or four year ban for a first offence.

o Two new Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) ‘Complicity’ and ‘Prohibited Association’ have been introduced.

o The time period for Whereabouts violations has been reduced to 12 months (from 18 months).

o The time limit to issue a charge for an ADRV has increased from 8 to 10 years. (Players, coaches and officials can now be charged for breaches that occurred up to 10 years previously, rather than 8).

o In line with professional Players in the Premier League, Championship, League 1 & League 2, Players competing in Professional Development League 1 (category 1 clubs) must now apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), prior to using or possessing a banned substance or method.

WHAT IS STRICT LIABILITY?The principle of strict liability in the Anti-Doping Regulations means that all Players are strictly responsible for any banned substance or method that they use or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat.

THE PROHIBITED LIST All banned substances and methods in football are outlined in the Prohibited List, which is published by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency). The list is updated at the beginning of every calendar year, and may also be updated throughout the year. The latest Prohibited List can be found on the WADA website wada-ama.org and the FA’s website at TheFA.com/anti-doping.

ANTI-DOPING REGULATIONS

The FA Anti-Doping Social Drugs Poster

4


ADRVS SUMMARY (each of the following ADRVs apply to Players; the ADRVs in italics also apply to other Participants) -

o Testing positive for a banned substance

o Using, or attempting to use, a banned substance or method

o Evading, refusing, or failing to provide a sample when requested

o Tampering, or attempting to tamper, with any part of the drug testing process

o Possession of a banned substance or method

o Trafficking, or attempted trafficking, of any banned substance or method

o Administering, or attempted administering, of a banned substance or method to a Player

o Complicity - (new from 12th July 2015). Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring in or covering up the commission of an ADRV

o Prohibited Association - (new from 12th July 2015) working with a person such as a coach, doctor, physio or agent(or Intermediary) who is currently serving a ban for an anti-doping offence or has been convicted in criminal or disciplinary proceedings of conduct that would constitute an anti-doping offence.

WHAT ARE THE ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATIONS (ADRVS)?

The FA Anti-Doping Regulations set out in full the ADRVs that are applicable in English football. The ADRVs are summarised opposite for ease of reference only. This summary is not intended to be definitive and the Regulations themselves should always be referred to for the full detail of the ADRVs.

5


For more information please visit www.TheFA.com/anti-doping

From the 2015/16 season breaking the rules could lead to a four year ban

THE ANTI-DOPING SANCTIONS ARE

CHANGING

9970 FA Anti-Doping Sanctions poster_v4.indd 1 09/06/2015 12:43

SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES Committing any ADRV is serious, and significant bans from football apply if an ADRV is committed.

The deliberate commission of an ADRV may well result in a four-year ban from football for a first offence. The regulations also have little sympathy for carelessness. For inadvertent doping, players may well face a two-year ban from the game. Participants should consult the Anti-Doping Regulations for the detail of the applicable penalties for ADRVs.

SOCIAL DRUGS Social Drugs are banned at all times by The FA. As set out above, a positive test for a Social Drug on a match day is a breach of The FA’s Anti-Doping regulations and can lead to a two or four year ban for a first offence.

Where a Player tests positive for a Social Drug on a non-match day, for a first time offence this can lead to a ban from football for up to 3 months. Players should refer to The FA Social Drugs Policy Regulations in this respect. These can be found at TheFA.com/anti-doping.

MISCONDUCT In addition to the above ADRVs, Participants can also receive a ban from football if they are found to have committed any act of misconduct relating to anti-doping. In particular, Participants should be aware that the following constitutes misconduct (though misconduct is not limited to these circumstances):

o Interference with the conduct of a drug test or any other aspect of the Anti-Doping programme. Full details of what constitutes interference can be found in the Anti-Doping Regulations.

o A breach of the Whereabouts or Missed Test requirements (including a Player incurring 3 missed test strikes within a 12 month period). The detail of these requirements is set out in the Anti-Doping Regulations.

All Participants must ensure they are aware of and comply with all anti-doping policies and rules and regulations.

IGNORANCE OF THE REGULATIONS IS NO DEFENCE TO A CHARGE.

WHAT ARE THE ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATIONS (ADRVS)?

6


UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKING MEDICATION Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter) Players must check to make sure it does not contain any banned substances. Medications can be checked online at Global DRO www.globaldro.co.uk. It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country.

KNOW THE RISKS WITH NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS The FA does not recommend that Players take supplements. Players 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.

MANAGING INADVERTENT DOPING RISKS

7


Players are advised to do the following before making a decision to use supplements:

o Assess the need to use supplements by seeking advice from a medical professional or nutritionist

o Assess the risks associated with supplements and undertake thorough research of all supplement products they are considering taking

o Assess the consequences to their careers – they could receive a four-year ban

If a Player chooses to take supplements, supplement risks can be reduced by:

o Undertaking thorough internet research (evidence of any such research should be kept)

o Only using batch-tested products

o Checking to see whether the product is listed on Informed-Sport (which is a risk minimisation programme)

The UKAD website www.ukad.org.uk/supplements has further information on supplements including information on the Informed Sport www.informed-sport.com programme, which provides a risk minimisation service for supplement products.

REMEMBER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR BODY AT ALL TIMES – IGNORANCE IS NOT A DEFENCE. A POSITIVE TEST DUE TO A CONTAMINATED SUPPLEMENT CAN LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF SUSPENSION.

MANAGING INADVERTENT DOPING RISKS

8


Players who need to use a banned substance or method to treat a genuine medical condition (where there is no alternative treatment available) may need to apply for a TUE.

o If a Player is prescribed treatment or medication he must ask whether it contains or involves any banned substance or method.

o If it does, the Player must request alternative treatment or medication that does not contain or involve a banned substance or method.

o If an alternative is not available, a TUE application may be necessary for the treatment or medication.

o Players should find out the level of competition that requires a TUE to be submitted in advance, by checking The FA Anti-Doping Regulations or with a club doctor or physio.

o If a TUE is required, Players must complete the relevant TUE form, attach the required medical evidence and send it to UKAD.*

Only in emergency situations (such as an allergic reaction, exacerbation of asthma, or the onset of Bell’s palsy) should treatment begin without the necessary approval being obtained in advance. In such cases the application for the TUE to cover treatment should be made within five working days of the treatment commencing. The Anti-Doping Regulations should be consulted for the conditions that apply in such circumstances.

For further information on TUEs visit www.ukad.org.uk/about-TUE.

APPLY FOR A THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTION (TUE)

* If your club is involved in a FIFA or UEFA competition at the time that you need to apply for a TUE you should consult FIFA or UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations to make sure that you comply with any additional requirements that apply. For more information on the TUE process consult The FA Anti-Doping Regulations or go to ukad.org.uk/support-personnel/tues

9


Players should know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. An anti-doping test will follow these main steps:

o Notification

o Reporting to Doping Control Station

o Providing a sample

o Recording and certifying sample information

The FA recommends that Players follow their normal hydration routine if selected for urine testing. Over hydrating in order to produce urine quickly and finish the test, is likely to lead to the sample being too dilute, resulting in the Player having to stay in the Doping Control Station until they produce a sample that is of sufficient concentration.

Players need to be prepared to provide details of any substances they have taken – this needs to be written on the Doping Control form. In addition, Players should report any concerns they have about the process or the equipment on the Doping Control form.

Players can view a video of the testing procedures in full on thefa.com/anti-doping.

UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS AT A TEST (DOPING CONTROL)

6

10


As well as asking coaches and club support staff for advice, Players may contact The FA directly if they have any questions in relation to anti-doping.Email: [email protected] Tel: 0800 169 1863 #4334

Visit The FA website TheFA.com/anti-doping for more information on the FA’s Anti-Doping programme, including information on Testing, Education and Whereabouts. Also available are videos of the drug testing procedures and copies of The FA’s latest educational resources.

CHECK YOUR MEDICATIONS ON GLOBAL DRO Remember to check all medications at (www.globaldro.co.uk) Global DRO, where products can be searched for by ingredient and/or brand name.

REDUCE THE RISK OF TESTING POSITIVE DUE TO A SUPPLEMENT AT INFORMED-SPORT.COM Informed Sport is a risk minimisation programme, which batch tests supplements for substances that are prohibited within sport. Visit www.informed-sport.com for more information.

HELP KEEP SPORT CLEAN We all have a responsibility to report doping in football and help keep it clean. A 24-hour dedicated phone line is ready to take your call if you have any suspicions or concerns about incidences of doping in football. You can provide information in complete confidence by calling 08000 32 23 32 or via a secure website http://secure.crimestoppers-uk.org/ukad/

KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR SUPPORT AND ADVICE

7

11


The FAW: TheFA.com/anti-dopingE: [email protected]: 0800 169 1863 #4334

Whereabouts Contact DetailsSMS: 07800 140062E: [email protected]: 0844 980 8210

The PFAW: ThePFA.com/thepfa/drugsE: [email protected]: 0161 236 0575

UKADW: Ukad.org.ukE: [email protected]: (0)20 7842 3450

UKAD TUE InformationW: ukad.org.uk/support-personnel/tuesE: [email protected]: +44 (0)800 298 3362

Report Doping in SportT: 08000 32 23 32W: reportdoping.com

Social DrugsFor confidential advice about social drugs go toW: talktofrank.com Text: 82111 T: 0300 123 6600

For alcohol related issues contact Drinkline on 0300 123 11110

Sporting Chance ClinicW: sportingchanceclinic.comE: [email protected]: 0870 2200714

CONTACT DETAILS

6

12