WADA 2021 Code

There are many organisations that work to protect sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is responsible for leading the collaborative world-wide campaign for clean sport. Established in 1999 as an independent agency and funded by both sport and governments, it manages the development of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code aims to harmonise all anti-doping policies ensuring that athletes and athlete support personnel are treated fairly and consistently.

The aims of the 2021 Code and WADA are to:

  • protect the Athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for Athletes
    worldwide, and
  • ensure harmonised, coordinated and effective anti-doping programmes at the international and national level with regard to detection,
    deterrence and prevention of doping.

What are the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs)?

The 2021 Code outlines eleven Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP), may receive a ban from sport if any of the following ADRVs are committed:

  • Presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete’s sample
  • Use or attempted use of a banned substance or method
  • evasion, Refusal or failure to provide a sample when requested
  • whereabouts failures. any combination of three filing failures and/or missed tests in a time period of 18 months (for athletes who are part of the
    National Registered Testing Pool)
  • Tampering, or attempting to tamper, with any part of the testing process
  • Possession of a banned substance or method
  • Trafficking, or attempted trafficking, of any banned substance or method
  • Administering, or attempted administering, of a banned substance or method to an athlete; or encouragement, aiding and/or
    covering up of any involvement in an ADRV
  • Complicity
  • Prohibited Association
  • ACTS TO DISCOURAGE OR RETALIATE AGAINST REPORTING TO AUTHORITIES (New from 1 Jan 2021)

ALL ELEVEN ADRVs APPLY TO ATHLETES. ONLY THE ADRVs HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD APPLY TO ATHLETE SUPPORT PERSONNEL (ASP).

Consequences are significant

Under the Code, a minimum four-year ban from sport will apply to those who are found to be deliberately cheating and breaking the rules.

The Code has little sympathy for carelessness – for inadvertent doping, athletes are more likely to face a two-year ban from sport.

All athletes, coaches and athlete support personnel need to make sure they have sufficient anti-doping knowledge to avoid committing an ADRV and receiving a ban from sport.

Find out more about the 2021 Code in the dedicated microsite on the UKAD website. The 2021 | UK Anti-Doping (ukad.org.uk).