Anti-Doping
The Angling Trust believes in clean sport and supports the anti-doping policies and anti-doping rules of WADA, UKAD and the International Angling Confederation (CIPS) to ensure the integrity of our sport is protected.
The use of performance enhancing drugs and other doping behaviour severely damages the legitimacy of angling and undermines the integrity of the sport.
Anti-Doping Annual Report
A summary of the Angling Trust’s key anti-doping activities in 2023 can be downloaded here.
Anti-Doping - The Rules
Angling Trust has in place a set of anti-doping rules that all competition anglers, coaches and support personnel must abide by. The anti-doping rules for Angling Trust are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (2021 Code), which governs anti-doping internationally.
You can find the UK Anti-Doping Rules here
- The anti-doping rules of Angling Trust are the UK Anti-Doping Rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. Such rules shall take effect and be construed as the rules of Angling Trust.
- The UK Anti-Doping Rules were updated on 1 January 2021. Angling Trust have automatically adopted the new version.
If you are a member of Angling Trust then the anti-doping rules apply to you, regardless of what level you participate at.
Anti-Doping - The Big Picture
There are many organisations that work hard to protect sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for leading the collaborative world-wide campaign for clean sport. Established in 1999 as an independent agency and funded by both sport and governments, it manages the development of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code aims to harmonise all anti-doping policies ensuring that athletes and athlete support personnel are treated fairly and consistently.
The aims of the 2021 Code and WADA are to:
- protect the Athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for Athletes worldwide, and
- ensure harmonised, coordinated and effective anti-doping programmes at the international and national level with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping
In the UK, Angling Trust works in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to prevent doping.
UKAD is the national anti-doping agency for the UK, dedicated to protecting a culture of clean sport – it achieves this through implementing education and testing programmes, gathering and developing intelligence, and prosecuting those found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
UKAD is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through the implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
Supporting Athletes to be Clean
100% me is UK Anti-Doping’s education programme for athletes – designed to provide information, resources, education sessions and general advice to athletes throughout their sporting careers.
Find out about 100% me in the dedicated Athlete Zone of the UKAD website.
What is Strict Liability
All athletes need to be aware of the principle of strict liability. This means that all athletes are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat.
It is crucial that athletes check all medications are safe to take prior to use. Medications can be checked online via Global DRO.
Athletes must undertake thorough internet research of any supplement products before use – including the name of the product and the ingredients/substances listed. Information revealed as a result should be further investigated and we advise athletes to keep evidence of their search.
What are the Anti-Doping Rule Violations?
The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes, and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP), may receive a ban from sport if any of the ADRVs are committed. Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of all the ADVR’s which can be found here
Managing Inadvertent Doping Risk
The Prohibited List
All banned substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List, which is updated at the beginning of every calendar year, but may also be updated throughout the year. The latest Prohibited List can be found on the WADA website here.
Understand the Importance of Checking Medications
Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or bought over the counter) athletes must check to make sure it does not contain any banned substances. Medications can be checked online at Global DRO. It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country.
Know the Risks with Nutritional Supplements
Athletes are strongly advised to be very cautious if they choose to take any supplement such as vitamin tablets, energy drinks, or sport-nutrition formulas. This is because there is no guarantee that any supplement is free from banned substances.
All athletes are advised to:
- assess the need to use supplements by seeking advice from a medical professional or nutritionist on their need to use supplement products
- assess the risks associated with supplements and undertake thorough research of all supplement products they are considering taking
- assess the consequences to their careers – they could receive a four-year ban
before making a decision to use supplements.
However, supplement risks can be reduced by:
- undertaking thorough internet research
- only using batch-tested products
- checking on Informed-Sport (which is a risk minimisation programme) that the supplement has been batch tested
Read more about Managing Inadvertent Doping Risks here and visit the UKAD website for further information including information on the Informed Sport programme, which provides a batch-testing service for supplement products.
Apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Athletes can obtain approval to use a prescribed banned substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition by applying for a TUE. They must be able to provide medical evidence to confirm their diagnosis and prescription, and reference that there are no reasonable alternative medications. TUEs approved by UKAD, unless stated otherwise, are valid at national level only. If an athlete is competing at international events, a UKAD TUE will not be valid unless it is first recognized by the relevant International Federation or recognised Organising Body. Athletes should notify the relevant body of this as soon as possible prior to competing. Athletes listed under the ‘National’ category for their sport must apply for their TUE in advance. The ‘National’ category for TUEs is defined by UKAD by sport and can be found on UKAD’s website here. Only in an emergency situation or where there will be a severe impact on health should treatment begin without the necessary approval. Athletes not listed in the ‘National’ category would only need to apply for a TUE retroactively should they be tested and their sample return an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF). You can find out more about whether you need a TUE and how to apply for one (including emergency TUEs) on the UKAD website here. Understand What Happens in a Test? Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. When selected for testing, athletes should take a representative with them to the Doping Control Station. Check out this video below on the testing process from start to finish: Athletes can find out more about testing, including their rights and responsibilities, in the Athlete Zone or by downloading the Clean Sport App from their app store. Know Where to Look for Support and Advice Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking Team England coaches, you may also contact UKAD directly, who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance. Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part whether on centre stage or behind the scenes. Speak out if you feel there’s something wrong – no matter how small. UKAD guarantee that your identity will always be kept 100% confidential. There are different ways to speak out: UKAD Therapeutic Use Exemption Information 100% me Elite Athlete Clean Sport App for Smartphones For essential anti-doping information download the Clean Sport App from iTunes, Google Play or Windows Live Store– the sport specific or the generic version. Check Your Medications on Global DRO Remember to check all medications on [www.globaldro.co.uk] Global DRO, where you can search by ingredients or brand name. Assess the Risk of Supplements on Informed Sport You can find information on supplements and ways of reducing the risks on Informed Sport. Register with UK Anti-Doping Visit UKAD’s website and register to keep up to date with the latest news. For More Information from UKAD: Keep up to date with the latest news on www.facebook.com/ukantidoping Have your say on Twitter @UKAntiDoping. For further information, please contact UKAD at [email protected] or +44 (0) 207 842 3450.