Australian Government: Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority

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Drugs, medications, substances and methods in sport

Therapeutic Use Exemptions

If an athlete needs to take a banned substance, they can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

TUEs are administered by ASADA’s partner organisation, the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC).

More information on the TUE process
Apply for a TUE [ASDMAC site]

 

Watch a video on prohibited substances and methods [streaming FLV - 8.8MB]

 

Watch a video on Therapeutic Use Exemptions [streaming FLV - 15.09MB]

Some drugs, medications and substances are banned in sport, as are some methods. Athletes competing in sports governed by a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy need to be aware that they can’t just take any drug or medication, or even use certain methods.

Each year the World Anti-Doping Agency updates and publishes a Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is the international standard that outlines the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. It reflects the latest scientific and medical advances and is finalised after a consultative process facilitated by WADA.

Important information about the 2013 Prohibited List

On 1 January the 2013 Prohibited List comes into effect.

The Prohibited List is the international standard that outlines the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. It reflects the latest scientific and medical advances and was finalised after a consultative process facilitated by WADA.

The major changes for 2013 include the following:

Increase in threshold for formoterol

Formoterol is a substance used in common asthma medications including Symbicort, Foradil and Oxis.

The permitted delivered (inhaled) dose of formoterol has increased to 54 micrograms over 24 hours with a corresponding increase of the urinary threshold to 40 ng/mL.

For athletes this means the substance is permitted in- and out-of-competition in all sports. However, athletes should consult with their medical practitioners to ensure their prescribed dosage of formoterol will lead to delivered doses within these thresholds.

Rewording of section on prohibited methods

In order to make Section M1 more encompassing to include all kinds of manipulation of blood and blood components, the title and body of Section M1 has been changed.

The title of M1 now reads ‘Manipulation of Blood and Blood Components’, while M2.3 has been deleted as it is now included in this revised category under M1.3, which reads ‘any form of intravascular manipulation of the blood or blood components by physical or chemical means’.

Section M3, which covers gene doping, has also been reworded to provide a more precise definition of this prohibited method.

Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers are no longer prohibited in the sports of boules, ninepin and tenpin bowling, and powerboating.

 

Clarification of stimulants

To give more clarity, under Section 6 for Stimulants it has been confirmed that all optical isomers where relevant are prohibited.

Monitoring Program

In order to reveal potential patterns of abuse, tapentadol has been added to the Monitoring Program in 2013 under in-competition narcotics.

The full list of substances included in the 2013 Monitoring Program are:

    1. Stimulants: In-competition only: Bupropion, caffeine, nicotine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradrol, pseudoephedrine (< 150 micrograms per millilitre), synephrine.
    2. Narcotics: In-competition only: Hydrocodone, morphine/codeine ratio; tapentadol; tramadol.
    3. Glucocorticosteroids: Out-of-competition only

Ahead of its implementation on 1 January next year, athletes and support personnel should familiarise themselves with the full details available through WADA’s website which contains the List, a Summary of Modifications and details of WADA’s Monitoring Program for 2013.

 

How substances come to be prohibited

For a substance or method to be prohibited, it must meet two of the following three conditions:

    1. The substance or method has the potential to enhance, or does enhance performance in sport.
    2. The substance or method has the potential to risk the athlete’s health.
    3. The World Anti-Doping Agency has determined that the substance or method violates the spirit of sport

Watch a video on prohibited substances and methods [streaming FLV - 8.8MB]

The full definitions of reasons why methods and substances are prohibited (along with the rest of the World Anti-Doping Code) can be found on WADA’s website.

Every athlete is responsible for the substances that enter their body. Athletes are also responsible for any method they undertake.

ASADA can help athletes and their support personnel check substances they may have to take, as well as find out more about banned substances and methods.

Important information about GW501516


The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has released an advisory cautioning athletes to be aware of the black market substance GW501516.

GW501516 was a developmental drug that was withdrawn from research by the pharmaceutical company and terminated when serious toxicities were discovered.

More information on the WADA advisory can be found on its website.

Check your substances


  1. Click the ‘check your substances’ button on this or any other page of the ASADA website.
  2. Choose your sport, gender and your role (e.g. athlete or medical professional)– this ensures you get the right result.
  3. Enter the name of the Australian medication.
  4. Get your results instantly in a new window. If you want to check more than one substance, go back to step three.
  5. Click ‘log out and print session receipt’*. Either save your receipt electronically or print it out.

*You will be given a reference number to document your search results. It is extremely important that you retain your reference number, as proof of your research before using the medication or substance. This may help you if you are ever called upon to provide that information in the future.

Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is prohibited above 150 micrograms per millilitre, under the List.

Athletes should not take pseudoephedrine 24 hours prior to or during competition.
There are permitted alternatives which you can take in this time period.

Out-of-competition there is no need for a TUE to take pseudoephedrine.

For therapeutic applications in-competition, consider the use of alternative permitted medications upon previous consultation with a physician, or apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

Overseas products

Drugs, medications and substances listed on the ASADA website are only brand-name products sold in Australia. Be extremely careful when using an overseas product.

You might not find medications or substances listed on the ASADA website if they are an overseas product, a new product, or if you are searching by the generic product name or ingredients.

Some medications obtained overseas have the same brand name as medications sold in Australia, but they may contain different ingredients. Although the name and logo may be identical to that in Australia, overseas products may contain substances that are prohibited in sport.