Anti Doping
Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is committed to committed to the advancement of clean sport that rejects cheating through the use of performance enhancing drugs and methods.
We believe in protecting the health of our athletes, the integrity of sport and the spirit of clean competition in which the best succeed. We work in collaboration with Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui, our national anti-doping agency, to:
- promote a culture of clean sport;
- educate members on clean sport rules, rights and responsibilities;
- facilitate testing;
- report doping and suspicious activity;
- support athletes to compete clean.
The Anti-Doping Rules
We have adopted New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules. The rules apply to all Paralympians and their support teams. The Rules cover much more than just testing positive – they also prohibit things like possessing, purchasing or distributing banned substances and tampering with or evading the testing process.
If you violate the Rules– even by accident – you risk a sanction that can include a ban from all sport and disqualification of your results. The quickest and easiest way to protect yourself is by reading about the Rules – and the Rule violations – on the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui website.
Anti-doping 101
Athletes, coaches and other support personnel can learn key anti-doping basics by taking the short e-learning course Clean Sport 101.
Got questions?
You can contact the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui at any time for clean sport support, information, education or resources. Phone 0800 378 437, email [email protected] or explore their website at sportintegrity.nz.
Prohibited substances
Some substances and methods are banned in sport. Each year, the World Anti-Doping Agency publishes a list of all those substances and methods in the WADA Prohibited List. Substances can be included on the list if they meet any two of the following criteria:
- It has the potential to enhance sporting performance
- It presents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete
- It violates the spirit of sport
Medications
Even common medications can contain banned substances. Athletes need to check every medication before taking it to avoid an anti-doping rule violation. Search for every medication – before you take it! – on Global DRO to find out if it’s prohibited in sport.
Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) allows you to take a medication containing a banned substance if you need to do so for medical reasons.
Top athletes must apply for their TUE in advance, i.e. before they begin using any prohibited medications or methods. Other athletes can apply retroactively.
Testing
Testing is an important way of deterring and detecting doping in sport. As an athlete, you should expect – and be prepared – to be tested. It may happen in- or out-of-competition, and you may be asked to supply a urine sample, blood sample or both.
You can be tested at any time, anywhere and without any prior warning. Failing to complete a test when notified may lead to an anti-doping sanction.
Supplements
Supplements are a risk for all athletes. The Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui don’t approve any supplements or their use because of this risk. Athletes can and do test positive because of contaminated supplements.
Nevertheless, many athletes choose to use supplements or are on a supplement programme. If that’s you, it’s important to make an informed decision. The Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui Supplement Decision-Making Guide shows you ways you can minimise – but not eliminate – supplement risk.
Athlete Whereabouts
The Athlete Whereabouts programme is used worldwide. It protects every athlete’s right to clean sport through out-of-competition testing that can take place at any time, anywhere, and without notice. Athletes on a testing pool must update their Whereabouts every quarter to protect the integrity of sport and to stay within the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
Athlete rights
The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act protects an athlete’s fundamental right to participate in clean sport, promoting health, fairness and equal opportunity for all athletes worldwide.
Speak Out is a way for anyone in sport to report doping concerns in confidence. You don’t need the full story. And get in touch even if it seems minor – they use every piece of information.
Phone the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui at 0800 378 437 or use their anonymous web form.
