Check Your Medication

Understand strict liability

Athletes need to be aware of the principle of strict liability. This means that all athletes are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat.

Check your medication

It is crucial that athletes check all medications are safe prior to use as medications for common medical conditions could contain ingredients that are prohibited within athletics.

Before using any medications, whether prescribed by a GP, bought over the counter in a Pharmacy or even straight from a supermarket shelf, it is vital that athletes check whether they contain prohibited substances. Medicines bought in the UK, USA, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia or Japan, can be checked using GlobalDRO (www.globaldro.com).

When checking medication on GlobalDRO, the status of the substance will be provided for in-competition and out-of-competition and will be one of the following:

  • Prohibited – The substance is prohibited in this form and will return a positive test if found in an athlete’s system.
  • Conditional – There is a limit to the amount of this substance an athlete can have present in their body, or there are conditions on the methods of its use (eg it can only be inhaled and not taken in tablet form). This is clearly detailed and care should be taken when taking a prescribed dose.
  • Not Prohibited – The substance is not currently on the WADA Prohibited List.

We strongly recommend that athletes check every single substance or medication before use, even if it has been used before. It is worth considering that medicines purchased whilst abroad, even in what appears to be identical packaging, may contain different or additional ingredients to those bought in the UK and should always be checked on GlobalDRO before use. The safety of supplements CAN NOT be checked using GlobalDRO, please refer to Supplements and Nutrition for more information.

Prohibited List

The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods is issued annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA ). The Prohibited List is updated at the beginning of every calendar year, but may also be updated throughout the year. The latest Prohibited List can be downloaded here.

Specific advice from UK Anti-Doping

Emergency Medicines

Hay Fever Medications

Registering prohibited medication

Follow the information below.

And for more information on Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), click here.

Medication registration Form