Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other groups who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code. Part Three of the Code outlines all the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the anti-doping system.
It is especially important that Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand Code Art. 21 (Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes and Other Persons), particularly Art. 21.1 (Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes), Art. 21.2 (Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel) and Art. 21.3 (Roles and Responsibilities of Other Persons Subject to the Code).
Athletes’ Rights
This section presents a summary of the key Athlete rights. It is important that both Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand these.
Ensuring that Athletes are aware of their rights and these are respected is vital to the success of clean sport. Athlete rights exist throughout the Code and International Standards and they include:
- Equality of opportunity
- Equitable and Fair Testing programs
- Medical treatment and protection of health rights
- Right to justice
- Right to accountability
- Whistleblower rights
- Right to education
- Right to data protection
- Rights to compensation
- Protected Persons Rights
- Rights during a Sample Collection Session
- Right to B sample analysis
- Other rights and freedoms not affected
- Application and standing
- The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act sets out these rights and responsibilities.
Athletes’ Responsibilities
It is equally important that Athletes are aware of their anti-doping responsibilities. Athlete Support Personnel should also familiarise themselves with these in order to be able to support their Athletes. These include:
- Knowing and following WAKO Anti-Doping Rules and any other applicable Anti-Doping Rules
- Taking full responsibility for what you ingest – make sure that no prohibited substance enters your body and that no prohibited methods are used
- Informing medical personnel of your obligations as an Athlete
- Cooperating with WAKO and other Anti-Doping Organisations (WADA, ITA, NADOs)
- Being available for sample collection
- Not working with coaches, trainers, physicians or other Athlete Support Personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV, or who have been criminally convicted or disciplined in relation to doping.
Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.1.
Rights and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel and other groups
Like Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other members of WAKO also have rights and responsibilities as per the Code. These include:
- Being knowledgeable of anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you or the Athlete(s) you support
- Using your influence on Athlete values and behaviours to foster anti-doping attitudes
- Complying with all anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you or the Athlete(s) you support
- Cooperating with the Athlete testing program
- Disclosing to WAKO and the NADO whether you have committed any Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) within the previous ten years
- Cooperating with anti-doping organisations investigating ADRVs
Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.2 and 21.3.
The Principle of Strict Liability
Athletes are at the heart of clean sport. Their actions, behaviours and choices are fundamental as to ensure a doping-free sport.
The Principle of Strict Liability stipulates that Athletes are solely responsible for the presence of any banned substance in their organisms, regardless of how the substance got there or whether there was the intention to cheat.
As an Athlete it is therefore necessary to:
- know and respect the anti-doping sporting rules;
- always be willing to undergo doping controls;
- take responsibility for what is ingested or consumed;
- inform your Support Personnel that you are prohibited from using substances or methods prohibited under the WADA List;
- ensure that any medical treatment you receive does not lead to an anti-doping rule violations;
- inform NADO and your International Federation of any anti-doping rule violations committed in the last ten years;
- collaborate with NADO in the investigation of anti-doping rule violations;
- disclose the identity of its Support Personnel at the request of NADO.
