|
ARE YOU COMPETING ILLEGALLY?
How many times after a great party have we taken a headache tablet and gone sailing?
Many people have heard about doping in sport and it immediately conjures up images of professional sports people competing at the highest levels, who deliberately take drugs to enhance their performance. We hear in the news of Olympic athletes, Tour de France Cyclists, Track and Field athletes, Swimmers who have fallen foul of the Code by testing positive and being banned from participation for lengthy periods. It is however not just athletes competing at these levels who are subject to the World Anti Doping Code. The Code is the core document that provides the framework for anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations within sport organisations and among public authorities, which came into force on the 1 January 2004.
South African sports participants are bound by the laws of this country, and as a signatory to the Code, South Africa has agreed to be bound by its terms and principles.
We, as sailors are also participants in the quest for drug free sport through our membership of ISAF.
As sailors of all ages, sex, and irrespective of the level of competition in which we are participating, we need to be aware of the provisions of the code, and to ensure that we comply with them.
It may sound ridiculous, but even a novice Optimist sailor, competing in a club race on a Sunday morning, might be transgressing the Code.
Before we take medication of any description, even if it is under the supervision of a medical professional, we need to ensure that it contains no ingredients that are recorded on the prohibited list as published by the World Anti Doping Agency. (WADA).
Participation is still possible whilst on medication, even if it does contain an ingredient that is on the prohibited list, but a Therapeutic User Exemption (TUE) must be obtained prior to competing.
A TUE may be granted subject to the meeting of the following criteria:
- The athlete would experience significant health problems without taking the prohibited substance or method,
- The therapeutic use of the substance would not produce significant enhancement of performance, and
- There is no reasonable therapeutic alternative to the use of the otherwise prohibited substance or method.
Application for the granting of a TUE is done by completing a TUE application form and submitting it to SAS for submission to ISAF or The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport.
Please remember, the onus is on us to ensure that we comply with the provisions of the Code. Ignorance is not an excuse and will not even be accepted as an extenuating circumstance if we do happen to test positive.
We urge every single sailor, (and parents of our juniors) whether you are taking an over the counter remedy for a cold or a headache, are on prescribed medication for high blood pressure, need to use an Asthma pump, whether you are 6 or 96 years of age, whether you are competing in a club race, Lipton Cup, or a world championships, to be aware of, and comply with the provisions of the Code. The Athletes guide to Drug Free Sport is a must read.
RELATED LINKS:
|
Anti Doping
