Under the World Athletics Anti-Doping rules, athletes are responsible for knowing what substances and methods are prohibited, and are personally liable for any prohibited substance found in their system.
The presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s sample, or the use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method, constitutes a doping offence under the World Athletics rules.
There are eleven anti-doping rule violations. In summary the eleven rule violations are:
- the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample
- the use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or method
- evading testing or refusing to provide a sample for drug testing
- failing to provide accurate and up-to-date whereabouts information or missing a test
- tampering or attempting to tamper with any part of the doping control process
- possessing prohibited substances or methods
- trafficking or attempting to traffick any prohibited substance or method
- administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete
- covering up an anti-doping rule violation
- an athlete associating with someone, such as a coach or medical professional, who has been found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation or equivalent
- intimidating or threating somebody from reporting anti-doping information; or retaliating in a threatening manner after somebody has reported.
Read the 2021 Sports Anti-Doping rules here
- The World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List details all substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. You can read the 2021 Prohibited List here