Rules and Regulations

The Prohibited List

Each year, the Prohibited List is updated annually following an extensive consultation process facilitated by WADA. It is an International Standard identifying substances and methods prohibited in-competition and out-of-competition and in particular sports.

Substances and methods are classified by categories, and the use of prohibited substances is possible by virtue of a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

Registered Testing Pool

In compliance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code and World Anti-Doping Code, the IPC has a Registered Testing Pool, a group of top-level athletes in specific Paralympic sports who take part in an efficient out-of-competition Testing Programme.

Athletes included in the Registered Testing Pool are required to provide the IPC with their regular whereabouts, which means information indicating where they can be found for an out-of-competition test without advance notice.

Repeated failure to provide such information and/or repeated failure to be available for testing at the location(s) specified in the athlete’s Whereabouts information may constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation in lines with the provision of the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

Further information about Whereabouts can be found here (link to http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-Doping-Program/Sports-and-Anti-Doping-Organizations/International-Standards/Testing/QA-on-Whereabouts/)

Based on current IPC resources and the ranking of the athletes, the IPC has established its Registered Testing Pool. The athletes included in the current Registered Testing Pool can be found below.

2013 IPC Registered Testing Pool

Athletes included in the IPC RTP are required to provide accurate, up-to-date whereabouts information to the IPC on a quarterly basis.

The deadlines for submissions for each quarter are:

1st Quarter (January – March): 31 December

2nd Quarter (April - June): 31 March

3rd Quarter (July – September): 30 June

4th Quarter (October – December): 30 September

Any athlete included in the IPC RTP, who fails to provide proper whereabouts information or provides fraudulent information, exposes himself/herself to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

Athletes, like all others, may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications.

It is an athlete’s responsibility to ensure that any medication they take to treat an illness or condition does not fall under the Prohibited List.

Occasionally athletes may have to take a medication to treat an illness or condition that is on the Prohibited List. Before doing so they must apply for, and have granted by an Anti-Doping Organization, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) which may give them the authorization to take the needed medicine.

Athletes are advised to treat the matter of TUEs very seriously and in all instances seek expert advice. Using a prohibited substance or prohibited method before a TUE Approval could constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Athletes should not assume that the medical professional who prescribes medication has a full understanding of anti-doping related matters in their sport. Athletes must check to see whether or not medication is included in the current Prohibited List which can be found on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) website.

The IPC strongly advises athletes, National Paralympic Committee (NPCs), coaches and administrators to check all substances with a medical professional with suitable experience in anti-doping related matters.

There are National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) that have a variety of useful resources on the internet where a search can be made on the status of a substance in a particular sport. By entering the substance name, the athlete will be informed whether a substance is permitted or prohibited in- or out-of-competition.

Please find below information that you may be able to assist an athlete and/or NPC in understanding the current rules surrounding the Therapeutic Use Exemption Process.

Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS)

The Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) is a Web-based database management system that simplifies the daily activities of all stakeholders and athletes involved in the anti-doping system.

Available in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Dutch and Arabic, ADAMS is easy to use and free for WADA’s stakeholders allowing them to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the fight against doping in sport. ADAMS’ multi-level access system protects the security and confidentiality of data.

ADAMS is a clearinghouse where all data can be stored, in particular laboratory results, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and information on Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). It facilitates the sharing of information amongst relevant organizations and promotes efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in all anti-doping activities.

ADAMS addresses the key activities of anti-doping operations through its functions:

Athlete Whereabouts

TUE Management

Test Planning & Results Management

Lab Results module

For further information on ADAMS, please click here (link to http://www.wada-ama.org/en/ADAMS/)