Check your medications

by reka.foldesi | Jul 12, 2019 | Anti-Doping

Many medications available for common medical conditions may contain prohibited substances. You need to be aware that these are readily available, prescribed by your doctor or bought over the counter in a pharmacy.

To avoid doping by mistake, always check every single medication (every substance) before you use it, even if you have used it before:

Consult your sports doctor, or
Consult the website of your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO), or
Check your medication yourself against the relevant Prohibited List. However, since this is quite complicated without pharmacological knowledge, you are strongly advised to seek professional assistance.

If you need to use a prohibited substance or method for medical reasons, you are advised to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

Note:

The principle of strict liability is of central importance and means that athletes are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or is found in their system – regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat or not. Not knowing the rules is no excuse.
Medications bought abroad may contain different substances than you are used to, even if the name of the product and brand is the same. So, remember to check them carefully.

Some NADO’s have a ”checking-your-medication-service” available on their website:

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