Substances: Legitimate use of prohibited substances

Responsibility

The Code places all responsibility on the athlete. You are responsible for checking the status of all substances by checking your substances or by phoning the Anti-Doping Hotline 13 000 ASADA (13 000 27232), submitting your Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) applications and ensuring you have a TUE in place before using any prohibited substance. (Athletes on regular inhaled asthma medication should not cease their medication prior to applying for a TUE)

Legitimate use of Prohibited Substances

You may at times require the use of a prohibited medication to treat a legitimate medical condition.
A TUE allows athletes to use, for therapeutic purposes only, a medication that would be otherwise prohibited. Before applying for a TUE, you must check with your sporting organisation to see if TUEs are allowed under your sport’s anti-doping policy.
The TUE process has changed to harmonise TUEs across sports and countries. The abbreviated TUE process has been eliminated.

From January 1 2010, there is now only one type of TUE:

 

TUE approval may protect you from receiving a sanction if a prohibited substance is found in your sample.
If your doctor has a question regarding the status of a substance, your doctor should check your substances online or contact the Anti-Doping Hotline 13 000 ASADA (13 000 27232), while you are still in their office.


ASDMAC advises on the Therapeutic use of prohibited substances.
Elite level athletes should first seek advice regarding the legitimate therapeutic use of a prohibited substance or method via their National Sporting Organisation (NSO) medical officer.  International level athletes may also need to seek advice from their International Federation (IF) medical officer.


Athletes should check the ASADA website for information about substances and their status in sport.
ASDMAC manages and considers Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) applications for substances that are subject to the standard TUE application process.  What is a TUE?

Checking the status of substances

You can check your substances online or by contactthe ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 13 000 ASADA (13 000 27232).


The Anti-Doping Hotline is a free, anonymous drugs in sport information service. Athletes and their support staff should contact the Anti-Doping Hotline for advice regarding the status of substances. The Anti-Doping Hotline operator will provide each caller with a call number that can be used as a reference for the advice provided.


Once advice has been sought and the need for a TUE has been identified, athletes should formally apply to ASDMAC.

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This page last updated Friday, June 20, 2008

Copyright © 2008, Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC)

 

Athletes’ Zone:

Tell your doctor

Always remember to tell your doctors that you are subject to doping control, and ask them to check substances before prescribing them to you.

Check your substances or phone the ASADA Hotline 13 000 ASADA (13 000 27232) while you are still in their office.