Athletes can have medical conditions that require them to take medications that include substances that are prohibited in sport. To ensure athletes can use their medications without concerns of inadvertent doping, the CCES manages the medical exemption process to help athletes stay healthy and protect clean sport.
What is a medical exemption?
Athletes who use medications listed on World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List should determine if they need to apply for a medical exemption. This is a multi-step process that has different requirements depending on the athlete. Once the process is complete, the athlete will have a document that states the medication(s) they are authorized to use. Every medical exemption is specific to the athlete’s individual treatment plan and specifies the dose, duration, route of administration, and more.
Do you need a medical exemption?
Follow the three-step process below to determine your requirements or go directly to step 2 to verify your requirements in the Medical Exemption Wizard:
Step 1: Use Global DRO to check your medications
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Global DRO will provide one of the following results:
Not Prohibited | Conditional / Threshold | Prohibited at all times | Prohibited in-competition only |
No medical exemption needed. | A medical exemption is required only if your prescribed dosage is above the stated threshold. Proceed to step 2. | A medical exemption is required. Proceed to step 2. | A medical exemption is required even though the substance is only prohibited in competition. Proceed to step 2. |
If you can’t find your medication on Global DRO, it may be a supplement and not a medication. Medical exemptions aren’t granted for supplements or natural health products. To learn more, visit the supplements page.
For more information or assistance checking your medications, refer to check your medications.
Step 2: Verify your medical exemption requirements
There are two sub-categories of exemptions: Therapeutic Use Exemption (standard or retroactive) and Medical Review. The Medical Exemption Wizard will tell you which one applies based on factors such as your level of competition.
Disclaimer
While the Medical Exemption Wizard is a helpful tool for learning about medical exemption requirements, the CCES cannot be held liable for errors in results. The use of the Medical Exemption Wizard is subject to the Terms of Use of the CCES website. This tool will be updated to reflect changes to the WADA Prohibited List, WADA's International Standard for TUEs and the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, as required.
Step 3: Learn about the medical exemption that applies to you
There are two main categories of medical exemptions: Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and Medical Reviews.
Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) | Medical Review | |
Athletes this applies to: |
| U SPORTS student-athletes CCAA student-athletes |
When to submit an application | As soon as you are:
| When you are notified by the CCES that an application is required, usually following analysis of a doping control sample |
Medical files required | Extensive medical file that meets the requirements of the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE) | Simplified medical file |
Duration of approval | Determined by the CCES Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee | Covers the most recent sample collection session only |
Jurisdictions covered |
| Canadian Anti-Doping Program only |
Learn more |
Contact Information
Do you have questions about a substance’s status, the TUE process, or your Medical Exemption Wizard results? Ask us!
- Substance inquiries: email [email protected] or complete the online form
- Medical exemptions: email [email protected]
- All inquiries: call 1-800-672-7775
True Sport and Medical Exemptions
The medical exemption process has the True Sport values at its core, ensuring fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun. Access to sport should not be determined by an athlete’s health or medical condition, and they should never have to choose between sport and good health. The medical exemption process exists to ensure that all athletes can participate in sport, regardless of medical treatment that includes prohibited substances, however, medical exemptions also apply a rigorous review process that ensures medications aren’t used for competitive gain and protect a level playing field.