Rights and Responsibilities

Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other groups who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). Part Three of the Code outlines these foreach stakeholder in the anti-doping system.

It is especially important that athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand Code Art. 21 Additional Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes and Other Persons, particularly Art. 21.1 Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes, Art. 21.2 Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel, and Art. 21.3 Roles and Responsibilities of Other Persons Subject to the Code.

ATHLETES' RIGHTS

This section presents a summary of the key athlete rights. It is important that both athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand these.

Ensuring that athletes are aware of their rights and these are respected is vital to the success of clean sport. Athlete rights exist throughout the Code and International Standards and they include:

• Equality of opportunity
• Equitable and Fair Testing programs
• Medical treatment and protection of health rights
• Right to justice
• Right to accountability
• Whistleblower rights
• Right to education
• Right to data protection
• Rights to compensation
• Protected Persons Rights
• Rights during a Sample Collection Session
• Right to B sample analysis
• Other rights and freedoms not affected
• Application and standing 

The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act sets out these rights and responsibilities. For more information, you can refer directly to the document here: Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act. 

ATHLETES' RESPONSIBILITIES

It is equally important that athletes are aware of their anti-doping responsibilities. Athlete Support Personnel should also familiarise themselves with these in order to be able to support their athletes. These include:

• Knowing and following the IFSC Anti-doping Rules and any other applicable Anti-Doping Rules – for example, those of Major Event Organisations
• Taking full responsibility for what you ingest – make sure that no prohibited substance enters your body and that no prohibited methods are used
• Informing medical personnel of your obligations as an athlete
• Cooperating with IFSC and other Anti-Doping Organisations: WADA, ITA, NADOs
• Being available for sample collection
• Not working with coaches, trainers, physicians or other Athlete Support Personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV, or who have been criminally convicted or disciplined in relation to doping – see the WADA’s Prohibited Association List 

Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.1.

Athletes also have specific rights and responsibilities during the Doping Control Process. Please refer to this section (link to Doping Control section of website) for more information on this.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATHLETE SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND OTHER GROUPS

Like athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and others under the jurisdiction of IFSC also have rights and responsibilities as per the Code. These include:
•    Being knowledgeable of anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you or the athlete(s) you support 
•    Using your influence on athlete values and behaviours to foster anti-doping attitudes 
•    Complying with all anti-doping policies and rules which are applicable to you and the athlete(s) you support 
•    Cooperating with the athlete testing program
•    Disclosing to IFSC and their NADO whether you have committed any Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) within the previous ten years 
•    Cooperating with anti-doping organisations investigating ADRVs 

Further details of these roles and responsibilities can be found in Code Art. 21.2 and 21.3.

THE PRINCIPLES OF STRICT LIABILITY

In anti-doping, the principle of Strict Liability applies – if it is in the athlete’s body, the athlete is responsible for it.

This means that every athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their urine and/or blood sample collected during doping control, regardless of whether the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or method. Therefore, it is vital that athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know the rules and understand their responsibilities under the Code.

Athletes must know and understand the Prohibited List and with the risks associated with supplement use. More information on the Prohibited List, medications and supplements is available in the Prohibited List, Medications & Supplements section.