Ignorance Not An Excuse

Claiming ignorance when it comes to Anti doping rules is no longer a viable excuse says Pauline Stephens from Oceania Regional Anti Doping Agency (ORADO) during a four day workshop for Team Fiji's entourage preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Team Fiji Entourage included managers and coaches including the Chef de Mission that will be looking after athletes whilst in Paris, France during the Olympic Games.

One of the sessions from the four day workshop was aimed at outlining the responsibilities of both athletes and officials with regards to Anti-Doping prior to, during and post Games.

"Athletes, coaches and officials have no excuse now that everything can be found online," she said.

"To claim ignorance or not knowing is no longer an acceptable excuse."

Pauline said the dissemination of information has become easier over the past four years with everything available online and accessible with the touch of a button.

"There are apps like the Global Drug Reference Online or Global Dro even WADA has an app which is available for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store," she said.

"These apps provide athletes and support personnel including coaches and officials with information about the prohibited status of specific medications based on the current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List."

Pauline said the List is updated annually following an extensive consultation process facilitated by WADA.

"It is important to know about anti doping rules and regulations now as athletes can be tested in and out of competition at any time," she said.

The consequence of breaking Anti-doping Rules can result in sanctions either for, a 1 year to 4 year or a lifetime ban.

Pauline, stressed the importance of athletes and officials being aware of the rules and most importantly the "principle of strict liability."

"It basically means that each athlete is strictly liable for the substance(s) found in his or her body, as a result of testing" she said.

"An anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance is found in an athlete, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault."

She said this was why it was important for athletes to take responsibility and learn about these violations and not depend solely on managers or coaches to know everything.

Pauline throughout the workshop stressed on athletes, coaches and officials knowing about Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Forms, Anti-Doping Management System or ADAMS Whereabouts, Medications Declaration and Anti-Doping  Violations.

“We cannot stress enough to the athletes that athletes and their support personnel know the rules and regulations covering drug testing and anti-doping which must be followed at all times," she said.

Pauline said World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has a list of Prohibited Substances and Methods which indicates what substances and methods are prohibited in sport which can be found online for anyone to see.

Information on the WADA List of Banned Substances and Drugs can be found at www.wada-ama.org or Team Officials could also contact FASANOC on 3303525 or email teamfiji@fasanoc.org.fj for contact details of Dr Jone Nasome, Chair of the FASANOC Medical Commission.

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