IMAC Anti-doping policy
It is the policy of the Irish Martial Arts Commission that doping is contrary to the spirit of FAIR PLAY and all members have a responsibility to ensure that our sport is free of doping.
On January 1st 2021, a new world anti-doping code came into effect. From this date Sport Ireland and bodies like IMAC which have adopted Sport Ireland rules are obliged to comply with their responsibilities under this code.
A full breakdown of what is contained in this ruleset can be found on the Sport Ireland website at this link:
All martial artist/ athletes, coaches, parents and club personnel should refer to the information below with regard to the new WADA 2021 code.
Anti-Doping Rule Violations
1. Presence of a Prohibited Substance in an Athlete’s Sample
2. Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method
3. Refusing or failing to do a drug test after notification
4. Committing Three Whereabouts Failures (Filing Failures or Missed Tests) in 12 months
5. Tampering
6. Possession of Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods
7. Trafficking in any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method
8. Administration to an Athlete of any Prohibited Method or Prohibited Substance; assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, covering up
9. Complicity or Attempted Complicity - Involvement in an ADRV committed by another person, such as helping to cover up that ADRV or avoid detection, will be sanctioned in the same way as that violation.
10. Prohibited Association -Associating with a person such as a coach, doctor or physio who has been found guilty of an ADRV or equivalent offence to a doping violation will be sanctioned with a ban of up to 2 years.
11. Protection of Whistle-blowers - it is an ADRV to threaten another person or to discourage that person from reporting to authorities of information relating to an ADRV, non-compliance with the Code or other doping activity, or to retaliate against another person for doing so.
Anyone, whether an athlete, coach, team staff, medical personnel, parent or official, can report doping misconduct and any act or omission that could undermine the fight against doping. If you have detected, identified, witnessed or know of, or have reasonable grounds for suspecting that cheating has occurred, you can contact, in strict confidence, the Anti-Doping mail address below for further guidance or any question you may have.
(Taken from www.sportireland.ie/anti-doping-rules)
Taking medication to treat a medical condition
You may not realise it but the medication you take regularly to treat a medical condition (Asthma, Diabetes, Hay-fever, Hypertension, etc.) could contain a substance which is on the banned list. The easiest way to check your medication is to look it up on the Eirpharm website www.eirpharm.com (medications purchased in the Republic of Ireland) or www.globaldro.com (medications purchased in Northern Ireland). For instant access to the Drugs in Sports Database, download the free Medication Checker App on iPhone or Android.
Remember, Strict Liability applies:
What does this mean?
It means that each athlete/competitor is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her bodily specimen, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete/ competitor intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.
Anti-doping education is available for any youth and senior squads who wish to enhance knowledge in this area. We recommend that all athlete/ competitors and support personnel including managers, coaches, medical personnel, nutritionists and officials/ referees complete the following course: e-learning course.
The course covers key topics in anti-doping including the following:
Anti-doping rule violations
Testing procedures blood & urine
How to check medications
Therapeutic Use Exemptions
The risk of supplements and herbal remedies
Consequences of doping
At the very end a certificate of completion will generate, which all athletes and coaches are encouraged to save this for own records.
If you would like to have a look at the course, you can create a login here http://elearning.sportireland.ie/login/index.php
What IMAC members need to know
WADA Prohibited List – Checking Medications & TUE Policy
The World Anti-Doping Agency issues a Prohibited List annually. For information on the Prohibited List see link below:
https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/wada_2019_english_prohibited_list.pdf
Note: Recreational Drugs are tested in-competition.
Check the status of over-the-counter and prescribed medications in relation to the Prohibited List, based on where you purchase the medication.
Republic of Ireland:
Drugs in Sport Database on www.eirpharm.com
For instant access to the Drugs in Sport Database, download the free ‘Medication Checker’ App available for iPhone and Android for Eirpharm – find it in the Apple iTunes Store or on Google Play
Medications bought in the Republic of Ireland can be checked by your G.P., Consultant or Pharmacist in a monthly publication called MIMS Ireland. Ensure the current month’s edition is checked.
Northern Ireland/ UK/ Canada/ USA:
Medications bought in Northern Ireland, U.K., U.S.A and Canada can be checked on https://www.globaldro.com/Home
Therapeutic Use Exemption
Martial Artist, like all others have illness or conditions that require them to take particular medications. All competitors/ athletes should check their prescribed and over the counter medications to see if they are permitted. If the medication you require falls under the World Anti- Doping Agency prohibited list, you may need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
If a medication is prohibited, you must check and adhere to the Irish Sports Council TUE Policy at;
Who to Contact:
Irish Martial Arts Commissions at anti-doping@imac.ie
You can also complete and submit an anonymous online form https://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/Report-Doping/
Sending an email to intelligence@sportireland.ie
Useful links
Sport Ireland education zone: https://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/Education-Zone/
https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/wada_2019_english_prohibited_list.pdf
TUE Form: https://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/Athlete-Zone/Therapeutic-Use-Exemptions-/
https://www.sportireland.ie/Anti-Doping/Support-Personnel/Therapeutic-Use-Exemptions-/