Athletes - Testing

ATHLETES' MAIN OBLIGATIONS*

Strict Liability: means that athletes are ultimately responsible for any substances found in their body; when a prohibited substance is found in an athlete’s body, an Anti-doping Rules is declared, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

Wrestlers must therefore ensure that no prohibited substance enters his/her body and that no prohibited method is used.

Availability for testing: any wrestler may be tested by UWW at any time and must be available for sample collection (urine or blood), whether in-competition or out-of-competition.

Cooperation: after being notified for a doping control, wrestlers must report immediately for sample collection and cooperate with the doping control officers. The athlete must remain within direct observation of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone at all times from when the initial contact is made until the completion of the sample collection procedure.

* (not limited to the following)

 

RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATHLETES' SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND OTHER PERSONS

Roles

Athletes Support Personnel must be knowledgeable of and comply with all anti-doping rules and policies applicable to themselves or the athlete they support.

They must use their influence on athletes' values and behaviour to foster anti-doping attitudes. 

Responsibilities

They must

• Cooperate in the framework of the athlete testing program. 
• Disclose to UWW and the applicable National Anti-doping Organization (NADO) any decision by a non-signatory of the Code that they have committed an Anti-doping Rule Violation within the previous ten years.
• Cooperate with Anti-doping Organizations (ADOs) investigating ADRVs.

 

DOPING CONTROL PROCESS

Click here to watch a video on the doping control process.

What are your rights and responsibilities as an athlete when notified of a doping test?

Rights: 

• Have a representative (coach, doctor) and, if available, an interpreter accompany him/her to the Doping Control Station (DCS)
• Ask for additional information about the Sample collection process
• Request a delay in report to the DCS.

Obligations:

• Remain within direct observation of the DCO/Chaperone at all times from point the initial contact is made by the DCO/Chaperone until the completion of the sample collection procedure
• Produce identification
• Comply with sample collection procedures (and the athlete should be advised of the possible Consequences of Failure to Comply)
• Report immediately for Sample Collection, unless there are valid reasons for a delay.

What are the valid reasons for obtaining a report of the doping test ?

In-competition: 

• Participation in a medal ceremony
• Fulfilment of media commitments
• Competing in further competitions
• Performing a warm down
• Obtaining necessary treatment
• Locating a representative / interpreter
• Obtaining photo identification
• Any other reasonable circumstances, as determined by the DCO

Out-of-competition:

• Locating a representative
• Completing a training session
• Receiving necessary medical treatment
• Obtaining a photo identification
• Any other reasonable circumstances, as determined by the DCO

The Athlete Biological Passport

The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) complements the traditional anti-doping testing approach to enhance the cost-efficiency of anti-doping programs.

The fundamental principle of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is to monitor selected variables ("biomarkers of doping") over time that indirectly reveal the effect of doping, as opposed to the traditional direct detection of doping by analytical doping controls.

The ABP is currently composed of two modules:

• The Haematological Module which aim is to identify enhancement of oxygen transport, including use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and any form of blood transfusion or manipulation.
• The Steroidal Module which aims is to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS) when administered exogenously (i.e. not created by the human body) and other anabolic agents, such as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS).

The Haematological Module considers a panel of biomarkers of blood doping that are measured in an athlete’s blood sample. The Steroidal Module considers a panel of biomarkers of steroid doping measured in an athlete’s urine sample.

The objective of integrating the ABP into the larger framework of a robust anti-doping program is twofold:

1) To identify and target athletes for specific analytical testing by intelligent and timely interpretation of passport data;

• For the Haematological Module, this includes Erytrhopoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) and homologous blood transfusion (HBT) tests;
• For the Steroidal Module, this includes Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) to detect endogenous steroids administered exogenously.

2) To pursue possible anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) in accordance with Article 2.2 (Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method) of the UWW Anti-doping Rules. 

 

REGISTERED TESTING POOL (RTP)

The UWW Registered Testing Pool is a list of wrestlers selected for out-of-competition testing throughout the year. It is composed of the best wrestlers of the moment selected based on a doping risk assessment developed in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI). UWW also ensures as much as possible that RTP Wrestlers are not included simultaneously in two testing pools (UWW's and National Anti-doping Organizations').

Responsibilities of wrestlers included in the RTP are:

1. Provide accurate whereabouts for each day of the quarter in ADAMS.

• Training location & time
• Regular activities (if no training)
• Daily residence
• Competitions (competition venue + hotel)
• 60-minutes period per day of availibility for testing at a location (for example: from 7h to 8h at home, or from 14h to 15h at the gym, etc…)

2. Be available for a test at the places indicated in the whereabouts!

 

RULES CONCERNING RETIREMENT & RETURN TO COMPETITION

Any wrestler included in the registered testing pool who wishes to retire shall immediately inform United World Wrestling and WADA. 

It is reminded that any retired wrestler who wishes to return to competition shall announce it to UWW at least six (6) months before and be available for doping tests during this period (article 5.6.2 of the Anti-doping Rules 2021). 

 

RISKS OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

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 dietary 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. Taking a poorly labeled dietary supplement is not an adequate defense in a doping hearing. 

For more information and advice on dietary supplements, visit the following website:

Athlete Hub (ita.sport)

and also the website of independant supplement certification companies recognized by the ITA:

Sports Supplements Certification | Informed Sport (wetestyoutrust.com)

Certified for Sport® (nsfsport.com)

Kölner Liste: Home (koelnerliste.com)