Rights & duties of the athlete

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF ATHLETES - WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE

The provisions of World Anti-Doping Code are not only an integral part of sports rules but also of the legal rules applicable in the Principality of Monaco, the Code forming appendix 1 of the UNESCO adopted in Paris on October 19, 2005 to which the Principality is a Party since January 30, 2006 and which was made enforceable as of February 23, 2007 by the Sovereign Ordinance n ° 959 of February 7, 2007.
They protect the right of athletes to participate in sporting events in a doping-free and fair play environment.
The list below, which is not exhaustive, lists the most important rights and duties contained in the Code:

ATHLETES HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS

correct and confidential behavior on the part of the controllers
to be informed of the consequences of a refusal to submit to the control
to be accompanied to the control by a trusted person of their choice
to call in an interpreter if necessary
to have a choice of control equipment in their original packaging
to be accompanied by a controller of the same sex during the urine sample
carry out the handling of the control equipment themselves or delegate this task to the controller
to enter comments on the control procedure on the control form
to be informed of the result of the analysis
to require - in the event of a positive control on sample A - a counter-analysis of sample B within the prescribed deadlines
to request that a person (lawyer, specialist, etc.) of their choice be present in the laboratory when the B sample is analyzed
in the event of a sanction, to be heard and to have the possibility of lodging an appeal

ATHLETES HAVE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES

inform yourself regularly about the Prohibited List (at least at the beginning of the year)
in the event of medical treatment, inform the nursing staff that they practice a sport and that they are therefore subject to anti-doping regulations
take all possible measures to ensure that the drugs they must take do not contain prohibited substances (Beware of self-medication)
take all possible measures to ensure a diet (including food supplements) free from prohibited substances
know the procedure to follow to make a request forTherapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)
Athletes who are part of the target testing pool are required to provide their location information (ADAMS)
submit to doping controls
confirm the notification to the control by affixing their signature on the control form
disclose their identity to the controller
follow the instructions of the responsible controllers
agree to be placed under the supervision of a chaperone from notification to the end of the control

OBJECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

What is meant by “strict liability”?

  • The principle of strict liability applies to all athletes competing in sports under an anti-doping program. This means that athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance, its metabolites, or markers present in their urine and/or blood sample collected during a doping control, whether the athlete used a prohibited substance or method intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, it is important to remember that it is each athlete's ultimate responsibility to know what is going into their body.
  • The rule that provides for this principle, in Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the Code, states that it is not necessary for intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the part of the athlete to be demonstrated by the anti-doping organization to establish an anti-doping rule violation.

Strict liability imposes a high degree of responsibility on athletes, who must take sole responsibility for the presence of prohibited substances in their bodies.

It is therefore extremely important that athletes become aware of the need to ensure that each drug, each food supplement or any other preparation that they absorb does not contain prohibited substances.