Anti-Doping
Doping is a major concern for the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation-Ghana as it not only damages the integrity of sports, but also the health of athletes. Therefore, at BSF-Ghana, we adopt a comprehensive and concerted approach to fight doping and protect an athlete’s right to participate in a doping-free sport.
Being an associate of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), BSF-Ghana follows the Anti-Doping rules published by the IBSF in January, 2015.
You can find the IBSF Anti-Doping rules here.
1. What is doping?
Put simply, doping is the violation of one or more of the anti-doping rules. This may include:
- Using or attempt to use a prohibited substance or technique
- Positive result for the presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s specimen
- Refusal or failure to provide a sample when requested by the authorities
- Possession of a prohibited substance or technique
- Tamper or attempt to tamper with any part of the anti-doping or testing process
- Illegal trade or attempt to do illegal trade of a prohibited substance or method
- Administer or attempt to administer a prohibited substance to an athlete
- Encourage violation of an anti-doping rule or aid or cover up any such violation
- Failure to file whereabouts of an athlete at least three times in a period of 18 months
- At least 3 missed tests in a period of 18 months
2. What is a Prohibited Substance?
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) maintains a list of substances and methods that are prohibited to be used by an athlete. The list can be accessed here.
3. How doping impacts fair play?
The use of substances or methods that are a part of the WADA’s list of prohibited substances may result in wrongful performance enhancement of an athlete. This influences the chances of winning of other athletes and hence damages fair play and integrity of a sport.
4. What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)?
If an athlete suffers with a medical condition that requires use of a substance or method that is a part of the WADA’s list of prohibited substance and there is no reasonable alternative available, the athlete may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). A TUE gives an athlete an authorization to use the substance for medical purposes only.
5. What is an athlete’s liability with regards to doping?
As an athlete, you are solely responsible for any prohibited substance found in a sample collected from you, regardless of whether or not you had an intention to enhance your performance or whether or not you are aware of how it got there.
To get more information about anti-doping rules, you may visit this link or contact BSF-Ghana by sending an email contact@bsfghana.com.