Discipline and Sanctions

Any person who commits an anti-doping rule violation may be provisionally suspended from all wheelchair rugby activities, including training and playing with their team, pending the outcome of a hearing before a Judicial Committee. If the case involves a positive test, the athlete has the right to have the B sample analysed and to present a case before a Judicial Committee. The Committee will decide on any applicable sanction and provide a written decision, which will be published on the IWRF website.

Sanctioning depends on the substance and the type of anti-doping rule violation. In general the standard sanction for
an anti-doping rule violation is four years which can be reduced or extended depending on the individual circumstances of
each case.

Anyone sanctioned for an ADRV in competition will have their results from that competition disqualified and will be stripped of any medals or other awards. If more than one

All ADRVs are publicly disclosed. For anyone who is convicted of an ADRV, their name and the offence will be published, including being posted on the IWRF web site for at least the duration of any suspension.

Note: Sanctions and consequences for doping are currently under review and will be updated to reflect the 2021 World Anti-doping Code

Health Consequences of Doping

Doping causes significant health risks. The substances used in doping can have serious side effects on physical and mental health. These can include:

Anabolic steroids:

• Acne
• Increased risk of heart disease, cancer
• Liver and kidney damage
• Increased aggression
• Extreme mood swings
• Changes to primary and secondary sexual characteristics

Stimulants:

• Irregular heart beat
• Loss of memory and concentration
• Headaches and nausea
• Chest pain and respiratory problems
• Strokes and possible heart attacks

Cannabioids:

• Mood swings
• Feelings of anxiety or paranoia
• Memory impairment
• Chronic bronchitis
• Increased risk of lung, mouth, tongue, and –throat cancer

Narcotics:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased pain threshold and failure to recognize injury
• Decreased heart rate
• Physical and psychological dependence leading to addiction
• Overdose leading to respiratory depression and death

Social Consequences of Doping

Committing an anti-doping rule violation can also have significant social consequences:

• Being labelled a cheat or doper
• Having details of the offence published in the media
• Reputational damage
• Loss of the respect of peers or teammates
• Loss of standing in the community
• Loss of sponsors
• Loss of employment opportunities
• Isolation

Doping Control plays an essential part in promoting and protecting drug-free sport. Testing is conducted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard for Testing. Testing may take place at any time, anywhere.

The following is a guide to the Urine Sample Collection process. Although slight variations may exist depending on the Anti-Doping Organisation, the principles are the same and will not affect the integrity of the process.

The International Standard for Testing recognizes that athletes with disabilities may have special needs related to the collection of a Sample. Doping Control officials will consider these needs and can make modifications to Doping Control Procedures where necessary and where this can be done without compromising the integrity of the Sample Collection.

If you need help with any steps of the Sample Collection process, such as removing collection bottles or splitting the sample, your representative is permitted to assist you. Any assistance must be provided in full view of the Doping Control official and should be noted on the Doping Control form.

Notification

You can be selected for testing either at random or targeted. A Doping Control official will notify you that you have been selected for Doping Control, showing you their identification
and authority to test. They will inform you of your rights and responsibilities, ask you to sign a Doping Control form confirming your acceptance to complete the test, and will then escort you to the Doping Control Station.

Failure to comply with the request to provide a Sample may be considered an anti-doping rule violation and may result in a sanction of 2 years.

You are entitled to have a representative and/or an interpreter accompany you to the Doping Control Station.

You should report to the Doping Control Station as soon as possible. You may request a delay to complete any of the following activities, as long as you remain in direct view of a Doping Control official and report to the Station within one hour of being notified.

1. Attend a victory ceremony
2. Fulfill media commitments
3. Perform a warm-down
4. Be medically assessed and receive any necessary medical attention
5. Attend a post-game team meeting in the change room
6. Change out of your playing uniform
7. Locate a representative and/or interpreter
8. Obtain relevant identification
9. Complete a training session, if you have been selected for Out of Competition Testing
10. Any other exceptional circumstances which may be justified and which shall be documented

Urine Sample Collection Process

Selection of Collection Vessel
You will be provided with a choice of individually-sealed collection vessels in which to provide your Sample. After making your selection, check the collection vessel has not been tampered with and is clean inside.

Catheters and urine collection systems
You may use a catheter or urine collection or drainage system such as a leg bag to provide a urine sample. This personal equipment is considered an extension of you, the athlete, and the strict liability principle extends to it. You are responsible for any prohibited substances found in testing, including substances which originate from personal equipment you use for sample collection.

Doping Control officials may offer a selection of sealed catheters for sample collection. You may choose to use a catheter provided by Doping Control, or you may use a catheter you have provided yourself. If you are using a personal catheter it is recommended that you use a new, sealed, sterile catheter for hygiene reasons and to avoid the possibility of contamination of the sample.

If you are using a urine collection or drainage system such as a leg bag, you will be required to eliminate all existing urine from the system before providing a urine Sample. If at all possible, the existing urine collection or drainage system should be replaced with a new catheter or drainage system before collection.

Provision of Sample
You are required to provide a Sample in direct view of a Doping Control official of the same gender. This means you should remove items of clothing from your knees to your midriff and from your hands to your elbows to provide an unobstructed view of the Sample leaving your body. You should also wash your hands prior to and after providing your Sample.

Volume of Urine
The minimum volume of urine required is 90ml however you should provide more if possible. If you provide less than 90ml it will be treated as a Partial Sample, temporarily sealed, documented and stored by the Doping Control Officer (DCO) until you are ready to provide a further Sample which will be added to your Partial Sample to meet the minimum volume.

Selection of Sample Collection Kit
Once you have provided 90ml you will be asked to choose a tamper-proof Sample collection kit in which to seal your Sample. Check the kit has not been tampered with, open the kit, remove the A and B bottles and verify that the numbers on the bottles are identical.

Splitting the Sample
The DCO will instruct you to pour the correct amount of urine into the B bottle and then the A bottle. You will be asked to leave a small amount of urine in the collection vessel.

Sealing the Sample
The bottles can now be sealed. The DCO should verify that both bottles have been sealed correctly.

Measuring Specific Gravity
The residual urine left in your collection vessel will be measured for specific gravity to ensure the quality of the Sample is suitable for analysis. If the sample does not meet the minimum requirements i.e. it is too dilute, you may be asked to provide additional Samples. It is therefore very important that you do not over-hydrate before you provide your Sample.

Paperwork
The Doping Control form must be completed, checked and signed by you, the DCO and any representative you have with you. You should declare any medications you have taken in the last 7 days and can make any comments you have about the Doping Control process. You will receive a copy of the Doping Control form which completes the process.

Laboratory Analysis
Your Sample is then sent to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Accredited Laboratory for analysis. A section of the Doping Control form containing only your Sample details will accompany your Sample to the laboratory. The laboratory will report the results to the relevant authorities.

Athletes are advised to exercise extreme caution regarding the use of any dietary supplement. No guarantee can be provided that any particular supplement, including vitamins and minerals, ergogenic aids and herbal remedies are totally free from Prohibited Substances.

The biggest risk associated with dietary supplements is cross contamination or lacing with substances that are prohibited. A product could also contain ingredients that are also not listed on the label which are prohibited or are listed under an alternate name which may not be listed on the prohibited list.

Products marketed under the same brand in different countries may contain different ingredients which may not always appear on the product label.

Under the principle of Strict Liability, you are solely responsible for any Prohibited Substances found to be present in your body. It is not necessary that intent or fault on your part be shown in order for an anti-doping rule violation to be established. Lack of intent is not a defence to testing positive for a Prohibited Substance because of a contaminated supplement.

The use of any nutritional or dietary supplement is at your own risk.

The principle of personal responsibility cannot be abdicated because of the actions of your coaches or medical advisers or any other person associated with your team or national organization. If supplements are provided by your team or national organization, that does not absolve you of your responsibility for the consequences if the use of such supplements results in an anti-doping rule violation. This will be the case even if there was no reason to suspect that the supplement contained a prohibited substance.

The only way to completely eliminate the risk of dietary supplements is to not take them.

Athletes are more likely to benefit from a healthy, well balanced diet which should be put in place by an appropriately qualified nutritionist.

Dietary or nutritional supplements, ergogenic aids and herbal products should only be considered for use where the nutritional review and supplementation process is controlled and individually monitored by appropriately qualified medical practitioners or nutritionists and where the appropriate batches of the products have undergone the applicable tests to ensure that the products do not contain any prohibited substances.

Consider the following risk assessment prior to using any dietary supplement:

• Seek expert guidance to assess your dietary and performance needs from an appropriately qualified person
• Is there any valid evidence that the supplement you feel you need to take really works? Many of the claimed benefits are not clearly supported by scientific research.
• Be wary of products that claim to increase strength, muscle mass, energy or weight loss
• Research well known products/brands
• Read the label and list of ingredients very carefully and undertake a search on each ingredient to ensure that it is not linked to a substance on the WADA prohibited list
• Avoid purchasing supplements over the internet
• Avoid taking or sharing supplements with fellow athletes, friends, or athletes from other sports
• Avoid purchasing supplements from a manufacturer who also produces supplements that contain or are known to contain Prohibited Substances
• Seriously consider having a supplement tested by a laboratory to ensure the batch does not contain any Prohibited Substances prior to using it

The above points do not abdicate your responsibility. The consumption of any supplement remains at your own risk regardless of the precautionary measures you adopt.

This page lists all athletes and other persons who are currently under sanction or suspension by World Wheelchair Rugby for Anti-Doping Rules Violations (ADRVs)

Name:
Nationality:
ADRV:
Sanction:
Period of Ineligibility:
Full decision