Ottawa – December 5, 2022 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reminds athletes to review their medical exemption requirements to ensure they are compliant with the rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the CADP, athletes who are prescribed a medication that is included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List may be required to apply for a medical exemption to permit its usage for therapeutic reasons.

There have recently been several cases of athletes who were not aware of their requirements in this process, which turned a positive test into an anti-doping rule violation. Follow these steps to check your medications and review exemption requirements.

Check your medications

Consult Global DRO to verify the status of your medications. Global DRO provides athletes and support personnel with information about the sport-specific status of medications based on the current WADA Prohibited List. Visitors can search Global DRO for information on medications sold in Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

If your medication is prohibited, you may be required to apply for a medical exemption.

Confirm your medical exemption requirements

Use the CCES’s Medical Exemption Wizard to determine if you need a medical exemption and if so, to download an application form. Your requirements will depend on whether you’re included in a testing pool (national sport organization and/or international federation), your competition level (provincial, national, international), and your competition schedule.

U SPORTS and CCAA student-athletes have access to the Medical Review process. If you’re a student- athlete who competes outside the collegiate system, you may have additional requirements and should complete the Medical Exemption Wizard to ensure you’re within the rules.

How to complete and submit an application

If the Medical Exemption Wizard confirms that you should apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), download the appropriate TUE application, complete it with your physician(s), compile the supporting documentation identified on the checklist, then submit it to [email protected].

Applications can take up to 30 days to be reviewed and approved, so submit your application as soon as reasonably possible to ensure your TUE is in place BEFORE you are tested. Additional information will be requested for applications that are incomplete or fail to include the required medical documentation and this may result in the process taking longer.

Ongoing Diligence

Your requirements for medical exemptions will probably change if you’re added to a testing pool, start competing at a higher level (e.g., from national to international, U SPORTS to national), or you begin a new course of treatment. Make a habit of checking your medications and medical exemption requirements on a regular basis.    

It’s imperative to know your testing pool status. The CCES registered testing pool (RTP) is updated quarterly, and international federations (IF) maintain their own lists. You’ll be notified by the CCES and/or your IF when you’re added to a testing pool. In Canada, you’ll be informed by your national sport organization if you’re included in the national athlete pool (NAP).   

Resources

Questions? Contact the CCES

About the CCES

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport works collaboratively to ensure Canadians have a positive sport experience. Through its programs, the CCES manages unethical issues in sport, protects the integrity of Canadian sport, and promotes True Sport to activate values-based sport on and off the field of play. The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. For more information, visit cces.ca, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

For further information, please contact:

+1 613-521-3340 x3233
[email protected]