by Françoise Dagouret, ITTF Anti-Doping Manager
Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more anti-doping code violations, mostly detected by the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s specimens.
In this respect, the WADA anti-doping programme uses detection and sanctions to keep doping out of sports by random testing from a pool of selected athletes, both in and out of the competition to find evidence for the presence of a prohibited substance or substances.
Athletes confirmed with positive test results are typically banned from competition for a period of time and stripped of any medals and records that were thought to have been achieved with the aid of doping. However, a different approach, the anti-doping policies initiated by WADA aim to create a strong anti-doping culture and target all athletes with its value-based education programmes to foster abstinence from prohibited performance-enhancing drugs. The List, which specifies substances and methods prohibited in sport, is a mandatory document for all organizations that have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).
The annual revision of the List is a highly-consultative process undertaken by WADA, and begins with circulation of a draft List amongst stakeholders. Comments are considered by WADA’s List Expert Group, which then presents its conclusions to WADA’s Health, Medical and Research Committee (HMRC).
Following this process, recommendations are then made to WADA’s Executive Committee, which discusses the proposals before making a final decision at its September meeting.
“One of WADA’s main roles is to be at the forefront of advances in anti-doping science, and to ensure that we are aware of any developments which might impact what should or shouldn’t be included on the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods”, said WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie.
“The process that leads to changes to the List is highly consultative, and involves the input of all stakeholders. The changes that have been made for the 2015 List will add greater clarity as we move forward into the next phase of anti-doping with the introduction of the revised Code.”
The Prohibited List will continue to be offered as an iPhone app and available on other mobile devices as it has been since 1st January 2012.
In addition to English, French and Spanish versions of the List, it is also possible to translate the List into other languages.
For further information, please contact: The World Anti-Doping Agency
E-mail: [email protected]
World Anti-Doping Agency: the WADA website