What is Doping?
Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs):
Positive test or presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete's Sample
Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method
Evading, Refusing, or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete
Whereabouts Failures — any combination of three (3) missed tests and/or filing failures within a twelve-month period by an Athlete in a Registered Testing Pool
Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any aspect of the doping control process
Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method
Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
Administration or Attempted Administration by an Athlete or Other Person to any Athlete In-Competition of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
Complicity or Attempted Complicity by an Athlete or Other Person
Prohibited Association by an Athlete or Other Person
Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities
Why is Doping in Sport Prohibited?
The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is fundamentally wrong and is detrimental to the overall spirit of sport. Drug misuse can be harmful to an athlete's health and to other athletes competing in the sport.
It severely damages the integrity, image and value of sport, whether or not the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance. To achieve integrity and fairness in sport, a commitment to clean sport is critical.
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.
Neither WADA nor IESF is involved in any supplement certification process and therefore do not certify or endorse manufacturers or their products. WADA and IESF do not control the quality or the claims of the supplements industry.
Education Tools
Effective prevention and clean sport values-based education programs are important to create a strong doping-free culture. WADA has developed resources for athletes, coaches, doctors and any other person who wishes to know more about anti-doping.
Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL)
ALPHA was developed by WADA with the input of eLearning specialists, athletes, anti-doping specialists and social scientists. It is currently available in 7 languages. The aim of this tool is to modify attitudes and have an impact on intentions to dope. It provides factual information about anti-doping (Ethical Reasons not to Dope, Medical Reasons not to Dope, the Doping Control Process, Rights and Responsibilities, TUEs, Whereabouts) and values based activities.
Visit ADELPlay True Quiz
WADA's Play True Quiz is an interactive computer game that tests athletes and their entourage's knowledge about anti-doping. It is currently available in 36 languages. As an integral element of its Outreach Program, WADA devoted considerable resources to the development of this interactive computer game which has been showcased at major events including the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and many international events.
Take the Quiz