Articles

FAQ for Event Organisers

I am organizing an event this year in my country. What should I do?
If doping tests are conducted at my event, what should I do?
If a competitor usually takes substances and is tested at my event, what do I risk?
How long before the results of the doping test(s) conducted at my event are known? Immediately?
What if I accept an athlete who is suspended?
Who pays for doping tests conducted at my event?
If a competitor refuses a doping test, should I interfere?
If a competitor admits to me to have taken a substance from the Prohibited List, who should I address him/her to?
More info?

1. I am organizing an event this year in my country. What should I do?

Unless you wish to organize doping tests on your own initiative, you do not need to do anything. The FAI will contact you if required.
However, you should inform competitors about their need to have a valid TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) in case they are taking a medication which includes substances on the WADA list of prohibited substances. This document is needed if the competitors are tested in competition to avoid a sanctions in the event of a positive test.

More: www.fai.org/anti-doping-programme/therapeutic-use-exemptions

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2. If doping tests are conducted at my event, what should I do?

If a Doping Control Officer comes to your event, s/he will officially introduce him/herself and request a clean toilet to conduct the test. S/he will also need a separate private room with a table and chairs where s/he will be able to talk with the competitor.
You do not need to do anything else other than providing the toilets and the separate room.

More:http://www.fai.org/anti-doping-programme/anti-doping-testing

More:http://www.fai.org/downloads/cimp/doping_control_process_at_a_glance

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3. If a competitor usually takes substances and is tested at my event, what do I risk?

You do not risk anything. The competitor will risk the sanction, not you. There is no risk that the event will be cancelled or postponed.

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4. How long before the results of the doping test(s) conducted at my event are known? Immediately?

No, it will take a few weeks for results management to be conducted. This means that your competition does not risk anything if a competitor has doped.

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5. What if I accept an athlete who is suspended?

It is not your responsibility to check whether an athlete has been suspended for doping but you are required to check whether s/he holds a valid sporting licence before entering your competition. His/her NAC should have withdrawn his/her sporting licence in case s/he is suspended.
But you can of course check the Anti-Doping section on the FAI website where sanctions are published for the duration of the suspension.

More:http://www.fai.org/cimp-projects/cimp-fai-anti-doping-programme

More:http://www.fai.org/about-fai/fai-sporting-licences

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6. Who pays for doping tests conducted at my event?

Until further notice, doping tests are financed and organized by the FAI or by the authority ordering the tests (National Anti-Doping organization, WADA, etc).
But you are entirely free to organize and pay for tests, should you wish to show that yours is a “clean” event.
Should you need any additional information or help to organize tests, please contact the FAI Anti-Doping Manager (antidoping[at]fai.org).

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7. If a competitor refuses a doping test, should I interfere?

It is not your role to interfere during a doping control. You can of course try to talk with the athlete but this is the main task of the Doping Control Officer and also of the athlete’s team / coach / entourage, etc.
As the holder of an FAI Sporting Licence, an athlete agrees to comply with the FAI Rules and therefore to comply with anti-doping measures.

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8. If a competitor admits to me to have taken a substance from the Prohibited List, who should I address him/her to?

It would be good to address him/her to the FAI Anti-Doping Manager (antidoping[at]fai.org) who will then follow-up on the situation and the next steps to take.

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