WADA’s 2023 Prohibited Checklist now in drive – IWBF

The World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) needs to remind athletes and all different stakeholders that the 2023 Checklist of Prohibited Substances and Strategies (Checklist) enters into drive at this time (1 January). The 2023 Checklist was authorised by WADA’s Govt Committee (ExCo) throughout its assembly on 23 September 2022 and was first printed on 29 September 2022.

The Checklist is without doubt one of the eight Worldwide Requirements which might be obligatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates what substances and strategies are prohibited each in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned specifically sports activities.

Main Modifications for 2023

All Main Modifications for 2023 are outlined within the 2023 Abstract of Main Modifications and Explanatory Notes, which was additionally printed on 29 September 2022, together with the 2023 Monitoring Program.

Main Modification regarding tramadol for 2024

It must be famous that, additionally on 23 September, the ExCo endorsed the advice by WADA’s Checklist Knowledgeable Advisory Group to ban the narcotic tramadol in competitors, efficient 1 January 2024.

The delay in implementation is to supply a further yr for broad communication and training of athletes, their entourage and medical personnel so that there’s a higher understanding of the sensible implementation of tramadol prohibition in competitors.

It would additionally give time to the scientific neighborhood to regulate the precise procedural particulars in order that equity will be ensured for athletes. As well as, it provides sports activities authorities time to develop instructional instruments for athletes, and for medical and assist personnel to deal with the protected use of tramadol for scientific functions inside anti-doping.

Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Program and information gathered by that program have indicated vital use in sports activities. Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent dangers of bodily dependence, opiate habit and overdoses within the basic inhabitants, is of concern and has led to it being a managed drug in lots of nations. Analysis research funded by WADA, as referenced within the Explanatory Notice have additionally confirmed the potential for tramadol to boost sports activities efficiency.

Annual Checklist Evaluation Course of

WADA leads an annual revision course of in regards to the Checklist, starting with an preliminary assembly in January and concluding with the publication of the Checklist by 1 October. That is an intensive session course of that features WADA’s Checklist Knowledgeable Advisory Group gathering data together with the most recent scientific and medical analysis, developments, and intelligence gathered from legislation enforcement and pharmaceutical firms; circulating a draft Checklist amongst stakeholders; and, taking their submissions into consideration to revise the draft, adopted by overview by the Company’s Well being, Medical and Analysis (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its suggestions to WADA’s ExCo, which approves the Checklist throughout its September assembly.

For a substance or methodology to be added to the Checklist, it have to be decided that it meets at the very least two of the next three standards:

1. It has the potential to boost or enhances sport efficiency
2. It represents an precise or potential well being danger to the athletes
3. It violates the spirit of sport

The Checklist is launched three months forward of it taking impact in order that athletes, their entourage and different stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Finally, athletes are liable for prohibited substances discovered of their physique and prohibited strategies discovered to have been used. Athlete entourage are additionally responsible for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if decided to be complicit. Consequently, if there may be any doubt as to the standing of a substance or methodology, it’s important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (Worldwide Federation or Nationwide Anti-Doping Group) for recommendation.

The Therapeutic Use Exemption Program

It must be famous that for athletes who’ve a reputable medical cause for utilizing a prohibited substance or methodology that’s on the Checklist, they’ll apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to find out whether or not they meet the standards outlined within the Worldwide Commonplace for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and mandatory a part of elite sport which has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders.

Academic assets 

Along with the paperwork linked above, WADA has offered, or will present, numerous instructional assets as a part of its Code Implementation Help Program (CISP), which will be accessed on the Company’s Anti-Doping Schooling and Studying Platform (ADEL). These assets embrace:

• A CISP Guidelines – Implementing Revised Checklist
• Athlete and Athlete Help Personnel (ASP) Factsheet on tramadol
• Medical Professionals Factsheet on tramadol
• Athlete and ASP Information to the 2023 Checklist

WADA will look to develop further instructional actions, comparable to webinars, to assist ADOs of their efforts to coach their goal populations concerning the change concerning tramadol.

Languages and Codecs

The 2023 Prohibited Checklist; the 2023 Abstract of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2023 Monitoring Program can be found for obtain on WADA’s web site in English, French and Spanish. The Checklist can be obtainable in Catalan, Croatian, Danish, German, and Greek.

Stakeholders wishing to translate the Checklist into different languages are kindly requested to sign their curiosity to [email protected]. WADA will then present the mandatory information and, as soon as the interpretation is finalized, will make the translated Checklist obtainable on the Company’s web site.

The Checklist’s mobile-friendly digital version will be accessed right here.