ANTI - DOPING
Defining the Boundaries of Doping
Doping encompasses the use of certain substances or methods that are banned in sports due to their performance-enhancing effects, health risks, or violation of the spirit of competition.
Doping driven by a fear of underperformance, misguided counsel from coaches or medical professionals, the urgency to expedite recovery, or mere lack of awareness, invariably leads to the same detrimental outcomes. Lifters risk not just their livelihood and standing within the sport but also face the prospect of long-lasting damage to their physical and mental well-being. The implications of such decisions extend far beyond the lifting platform, potentially impacting lifters’ health and quality of life indefinitely.
EWF’s Anti-Doping Commitment
The European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) is committed to protecting the health and mental well-being of lifters, maintaining the integrity of the sport, and ensuring fair competition where all athletes have an equal opportunity to succeed.
To this end, the EWF collaborates not only with national weightlifting bodies and continental federations but has also partnered with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Testing Agency (ITA) to mount a robust defense against doping.
The Anti-Doping war’s key figures
Doping in sports, initially addressed pre-World War II, gained significant attention in the 1960s due to its impact on sports integrity and athlete health. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) established the Medical Commission in 1961 and released its first banned substance list for the 1968 Olympics.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded in 1999 in response to increasing professionalization in sports and a notable doping scandal in cycling. This led to the creation of the International Testing Agency (ITA) in 2018, co-founded by the IOC and WADA, to enforce anti-doping rules with greater objectivity and independence.
WADA also maintains an annually updated list of prohibited substances and has launched the Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL) to inform and educate the global sports community, underscoring the importance of awareness in the fight against doping.
Important documents
WADA’s List of Banned Substances and Methods
WADA is diligent in its efforts to define and update the list of illegal substances and methods. It is crucial for athletes to familiarize themselves with this list, noting which items are not permitted at any time versus those banned during competitions. Substances like steroids, cocaine, or amphetamines, which appear on WADA’s Prohibited List, are strictly forbidden for athletes and their support teams. This list specifies these substances and clarifies their prohibited status, whether in-competition or out.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)
For lifters with a medically justified need to use a substance or method that is otherwise prohibited, there is a provision under the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) that may allow for such use.
A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) serves to ensure that an athlete can adhere to their necessary medical treatment without the concern of sanctions arising from a positive doping test result for a substance under restriction.
For more details on the TUE, athletes can find the information here.