Anti Doping and Clean Sport
Virtus, in partnership with Canterbury Christchurch University, is developing new and engaging materials to support the fight against doping in sport.
We are looking for athletes to help create these resources. Due to the funding criteria, athletes must appear on the II1 Master List and must have watched/read the anti-doping educational videos/posts and attended the seminar delivered by Virtus.
Participants will receive £GB75 compensation.
Interested athletes should contact the lead researcher, Philip Hurst ([email protected]) to book their place.
Virtus is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code as the basis for the fight against doping in sport. We treat the issue of doping very seriously.
Competitors, coaches, member organisations and event organisers should read and understand the Virtus anti-doping procedures carefully and ensure they are upheld at every opportunity.
Anti-doping programs are founded on “the spirit of sport”. They seek to protect the health of athletes and to provide the opportunity to pursue human excellence without the use of Prohibited Substances and Methods. Anti-doping ensures the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field and the value of clean sport to the world.
Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport.
The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind and it is reflected in values we find in and through sport, including ethics, fair play and honesty, health, excellence in performance, character and education, fun and joy, teamwork, dedication and commitment, respect for rules and laws, respect for self and others, courage, community and solidarity.
Use the tabs above to explore and learn more about anti doping in sport
According to the International Standard for Education (ISE) “an athlete’s first experience with anti-doping should be through education and not doping control.”
Education, as a prevention strategy highlighted in the code, seeks to promote behavior in line with clean sport values and help prevent doping by athletes and others. A fundamental principle underlying the International Standard on Education is that an athlete’s first experience with anti-doping should be through education rather than doping control.
Fundamental Principles
- An athlete’s first experience with anti-doping should be through education and not testing.
- All athletes start out competing clean and should want to stay clean throughout their careers, so programs should support this goal.
- All world-class athletes must receive education before leaving their country.
- Educational programs must be adapted to the cultural and sporting contexts in which they are located.
- Education is everyone’s responsibility, and cooperation between signatories is encouraged to ensure the most effective use of resources, including avoiding duplication whenever possible.
- Meeting ISE requirements is possible for all signatories, regardless of resources and capacity.
WADA Resources
The World Anti-Doping Agency has a wide range of resources for athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators including:
- WADA Video Materials
- Educational Resources – Education and Prevention Tools
- Anti-Doping Education – Learning platform (ADEL)
Virtus can provide support and advice to member organisations. Please use the contact button below for further details.
Testing, or doping control is the primary tool for deterring and detecting doping in sport, through the collection of urine or blood samples for analysis. Athletes can be tested anywhere and anytime, in or out-of-competition, without any advance notice. All athletes may be subject to testing, not just those included in a testing pool.
Athletes may be subject to testing under the authority or jurisdiction of different anti-doping organisations including:
- National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs)
- Virtus (International Federation)
- Major Event Organisations (MEOs)
Virtus has testing authority as both an International Federation and a Major Event Organisation (e.g. Virtus Global Games)
The Doping Control (testing) Process
The following outlines the basic steps in the doping control process:
1. Notification & Chaperoning
A Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone will notify the athlete that they have been selected for testing and explain their rights and responsibilities. Once notified, the athlete must stay within sight of the DCO/Chaperone until the testing process is complete. Athletes may ask for a representative such as a coach or interpreter to support and assist them.
2. Reporting to the Doping Control Station
Athletes selected for testing must report to the Doping Control Station (DCS) as soon as practical after notification – unless there is a valid reason for delay such as attending a medal ceremony, performing a warm down or collecting identification.
Athletes can relax and rehydrate in the DCS, until ready to provide a sample. Athletes should take care not to drink too much – if the sample is too diluted, a second might be needed.
3. Sample Collection
When ready to provide a sample, the athlete will be asked to choose a collection beaker. Athletes should check that there is no damage to the beaker. A Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone, the same gender as the athlete will accompany them to bathroom or toilet. Athletes may be asked to adjust your clothing or posture so that the DCO can witness the urine leaving your body.
4. Blood Test
The blood testing process is similar to urine. A qualified professional (phlebotomist) will collect the blood sample. The athlete will be required to sit quietly for a minimum of 10 minutes before the sample is collected. Depending on the type of blood test, the athlete may be required to rest for two hours after competing or training. Athletes who are afraid of needles should tell the blood collection officer so he/she can help them through the process.
5. Sealing the Sample
The DCO will instruct the athlete to choose a kit and check that it is sealed, intact and the numbers match. The athlete will divide their sample between the A and B bottles and seal them. Only the athlete can touch their samples until they are securely sealed in the bottles – unless assistance is required to do this.
The minimum volume of urine required is 90mls. If the athlete cannot provide 90mls on the first attempt, this is a partial sample. The sample will be sealed temporarily until a further sample is provided to meet the required volume.
The DCO will also check the dilution of the final sample. If the sample is too dilute, the athlete will be asked to provide another sample.
6. Completing the Documentation
The DCO will complete the Doping Control Form (DCF). If a paperless system is used the DCF will be completed electronically. It is important to check that all the details on the form are correct before the athlete signs it to confirm the testing process was appropriate.
The athlete will be asked to declare any medication or supplements they have taken within the last 7 days and if they consent to your sample being used (anonymously) for research purposes.
If there are any concerns about the process, the athlete can write a comment directly on the Doping Control Form. If they are not comfortable doing this at the time, they should contact your National Federation or Virtus Member Organisation without delay to raise the concern.
7. Sample Analysis & Results
The samples will be shipped to a WADA-accredited laboratory for analysis. The results of the analysis will be sent to Virtus (or the responsible anti-doping organization) and to WADA.
If the sample tests negative no further action is required.
If the sample tests positive, this is called an adverse analytical finding (AAF). It means a prohibited substance has been detected in the sample. In this case, Virtus will contact the athlete through the Virtus Member Organisation with more information.
The sample can be stored for up to 10 years during which time it may be re-analysed.
Minors (athletes under the age of 18) and athletes with intellectual impairments can request that their representative observe the DCO/Chaperone while he/she is witnessing the sample provision.
Athletes with a disability may require assistance from a representative during the process. The athlete must first authorize any representative to assist him or her – and the type of assistance provided must also be approved in consultation with the DCO.
Any modifications to the sample collection process will be recorded on the Doping Control Form.
The Prohibited List is the core document that identifies the substances and methods that are banned in sport and is updated annually. Some substances and methods are banned at all times and others are only banned in-competition.
Things to Remember
Medications can contain banned substances. This includes medications prescribed by a doctor or medical professional and those which can be purchased over-the-counter in a supermarket or from a pharmacy.
Taking a medication that contains a banned substance is a risk that all athletes need to be aware of. Athletes using medication should check that its ingredients do not contain any banned substances. Do not assume that if it is prescribed by a medical professional that it is safe to take.
Athletes are ultimately responsible for what is found in your body (the principle of strict liability).
Athletes, like all others, may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications. It is an athlete’s responsibility to ensure that any medication they take to treat an illness or condition does not fall under the WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.
Occasionally, athletes may need to take a medication that is on the List in order to treat an illness or condition. Before doing so they must apply for – and have granted – a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) which may grant them authorisation to take the required medicine.
Athletes competing in Virtus approved competition which require a TUE should apply to Virtus in good time using the form below.
IMPORTANT: Only International Athletes should apply to Virtus for a TUE.
To be considered an Virtus International Athlete you must have competed (within the last 12 months) or expect to compete (in the next 6 months) in at least one of:
- a Virtus World Championship (for any sport) or
- the Virtus Global Games
All other Virtus athletes should apply for a TUE from their NADO. Virtus will then recognise the TUE issued by the NADO.
Applying for TUE
All TUE applications must be sent to Virtus no later than 30 business days before the next competition. Failure to do so will result in a declaration of non-compliance, in accordance with the WADA certified process for non-compliance.
All the information contained in a TUE application, including the supporting medical information and any other information related to the evaluation of your TUE request is kept strictly confidential and treated in accordance with the Athlete’s Declaration contained in the ADAMS TUE process and in the Virtus TUE Application Form.
TUE Recognition
If you already have a TUE granted by your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO):
- You must submit a request for recognition to Virtus to be used for international Virtus competition.
Retroactive TUE
In a small number of cases, for example where emergency medication has been given before a TUE was issued then athletes can apply for a retroactive TUE. For guidance, please contact Virtys using the button below.
Please use the following links to access WADA advice. Please note these are external links and information is not that of Virtus.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Anaphylaxis
- Asthma
- Cardiovascular Conditions
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intravenous Infusions
- Male Hypogonadism
- Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Neuropathic Pain
- Renal Transplantation
- Sinusitis/Rhinosinusitis
- Intrinsic Sleep Disorders
- Transgender Athletes
Since 1 January 2022, all injectable routes of administration will now be prohibited for glucocorticoids during the in-competition period. Examples of injectable routes of administration include: intravenous, intramuscular, periarticular, intra-articular, peritendinous, intratendinous, epidural, intrathecal, intrabursal, intralesional (e.g. intrakeloid), intradermal, and subcutaneous.
For clarification: oral administration of glucocorticoids, which remains prohibited in-competition, includes, in particular, oromucosal, buccal, gingival and sublingual routes.
Other routes of administration (including inhaled and topical: dental-intracanal, dermal, intranasal, ophthalmological and perianal) are not prohibited when used within the manufacturer’s licensed doses and therapeutic indications.
It is strongly recommended that athletes follow the minimum washout periods, expressed from the time of administration to the start of the in-competition period. These washout periods, which are highlighted in the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note, are based on the use of these medications according to the maximum manufacturer’s licensed doses.
If there is a legitimate medical need for the use of a glucocorticoid, the athlete may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). In case of an AAF in-competition, the athlete may apply for a retroactive TUE as provided for in the applicable rules.
For further information regarding WADA’s approach to the routes of administration of glucocorticoids and washout periods, please refer to the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note.
The daily dosing time intervals are modified to 600 micrograms over eight hours starting from the time any dose is taken (previously 800 micrograms over 12 hours). This is to reduce the risk of any potential AAF arising after high doses are taken at once. The total permitted daily dose remains at 1,600 micrograms over 24 hours. A TUE should be sought for doses in excess of these limits.
For further information on the permitted dosage of salbutamol, please refer to the Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Note
For the first time, a substance has been included by name as an example in section S0 (Non-approved Substances) of the List. This substance, BPC-157, is an experimental peptide sold as a supplement, and it has been included in the 2022 List following a recent re-evaluation of its status
In the fight against doping, the anti-doping control system has a critically important role to play. The controls not only occur during competition but, in order to combat doping effectively and preventatively, also take place out-of-competition.
In accordance with WADA’s International Standards for Testing & Investigation, Virtus maintains lists of such athletes, which are referred to as the Virtus Registered Testing Pool and defined as the pool of highest-priority athletes established separately at the international level by Virtus. They are subject to focused in-competition and out-of-competition testing as part of Virtus’s test distribution plan and therefore are required to provide whereabouts information as provided in Article 5.6 of the World Anti-Doping Code and the WADA International Standard for Testing and Investigations.
Whereabouts
Some athletes, usually those who are part of a Registered Testing Pool (RTP), are required to provide whereabouts information. This information is used by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) to locate athletes for effective out of competition doping control.
RTP athletes are required to provide the following whereabouts information on a quarterly basis:
- Home address, email address and phone number
- An address for overnight accommodations
- Regular activities, such as training, work, and school, the locations and the times of these activities
- Competition schedules and locations
- A 60-minute time slot for each day where they’ll be available and accessible for testing and liable for a potential ‘missed test’
RTP athletes may submit their whereabouts information via WADA’s Anti-Doping Management System (ADAMS). The mobile app Athlete Central is available for athletes to submit and update their whereabouts information in a simple, smart and fast manner.
RTP athletes must submit their whereabouts information by a specific data and time for the following quarter. RTP athletes can make changes to their whereabouts via Athlete Central, ADAMS or by SMS.
For more information please visit:
Extreme caution is recommended regarding supplement use.
Neither WADA nor Virtus is involved in any supplement certification process and therefore do not certify or endorse manufacturers or their products. WADA and Virtus do not control the quality or the claims of the supplements industry.
The use of dietary supplements by athletes is a serious concern because in many countries the manufacturing and labelling of supplements do not follow strict rules, which may lead to a supplement containing an undeclared substance that is prohibited under anti-doping regulations. A significant number of positive tests have been attributed to the misuse of supplements and attributing an Adverse Analytical Finding to a poorly labelled dietary supplement is not an adequate defence in a doping hearing.
Companies producing nutritional supplements are not ruled strict regulations.
The risks of taking supplements should be weighed against the potential benefit that may be obtained and athletes must appreciate the negative consequences of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as a result of taking a contaminated supplement.
Use of supplement products that have been subjected to one of the available quality assurance schemes can help to reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of an inadvertent doping infringement.
What is a supplement?
In general, supplements are manufactured products likes pills, capsules, powders, gels, drinks and bars that contain nutrients, herbs, amino acids or other substances that can affect the body. These are typically available over-the-counter and meant to “supplement” the diet.
However there are legally available products on the market that may be harmful to health, may have negative effects on performance, and may cause a positive test.
The regulations for how supplements are manufactured can be less strict than those for medications; and, the manufacturing and sale of supplements can be tightly regulated in some countries but often these regulations are not enforced.
This means that the ingredients a supplement contains, their quality (how pure they are), how they are listed on the label, and where the supplement is purchased can create risks.
Taking a food-first approach
A common misconception about supplements is that they are a replacement for food or even superior to food. This is not true. They are not a shortcut to good nutrition.
Athletes who eat well are getting the balance of nutrients and energy needed, and it’s likely that using supplements is unnecessary.
Talking to a medical professional
After analysing diet and making any necessary changes, and before making a decision about using a supplement, talk to a medical professional or qualified sports nutrition professional.
But, before advising you, they need to know that you are an athlete and that you must abide by the anti-doping rules.
If absolutely necessary, choose batch-tested
If a supplement is deemed essential and all the other questions have been asked, then it is recommended that a batch-tested supplement is used.
A batch-tested supplement cannot remove all risks associated with supplements and is not for all countries. However, it can significantly reduce them.
What is the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)?
The term “athlete biological passport” was first proposed in the early 2000s by the scientific community when monitoring of select haematological variables (markers of blood doping) was identified as a means to define an individual’s haematological profile.
In conjunction with several stakeholders and medical experts, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) began to further develop, harmonise, and validate this concept. The ABP is a collation of all relevant biologicals data unique to an individual Athlete, thus facilitate exchange of information and mutual recognition of data’s and, consequently, help to the fight against doping.
Does Virtus have an ABP Program?
Virtus continues to integrate the ABP properly and successfully into its overall program by weighing all factors including the required resources and capacity to operate such an extensive program. Virtus strongly intends to continue to build its ABP database throughout the coming years, to use it to complement all its other anti-doping initiatives effectively and efficiently, and to pursue any apparent Anti-Doping Rules Violations (ADRV) arising from them.
How does the passport work?
The ABP consists of collecting data about two modules:
- The Haematological Profile
- The Steroidal Profile
These modules aim to identify the use of prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods.
What is the Haematological Profile?
The hematological profile collects information on markers of blood doping. It aims to identify the use of prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods for the enhancement of oxygen transport of delivery, including the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and any form of blood transfusion or manipulation.
What is the Steroidal Profile?
The steroidal profile collects information on markers of steroid doping. It aims to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids when administrated exogenously and other anabolic agents. It is also an effective means to identity samples which may have been tampered with or exchanged with the urine of another individual.
What are the objectives of the ABP?
The ABP is built on the monitoring over time of an athlete, in the goal to select biological variables that indirectly reveals the effects of doping. It is a complementary means with the tests made in competition and out of competition. Indeed, the ABP can notably be used as a complement to analytical methods to further refine and strengthen overall anti-doping strategies.
What about the consequences?
Through changes in biological markers of doping collated over an athlete’s career, the ABP can be used to establish the use of a prohibited substance and/or prohibited methods without necessarily relying on the detection of a particular prohibited substance or prohibited method.
An athlete runs very high risks by consuming doping substances or by using prohibited methods.
There are 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Some them also apply to athlete support personnel and other persons.
- Presence of Prohibited Substance
- Use or Attempted Use a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Methody
- Evading, refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection
- Whereabouts failures
- Possession of Prohibited Substance
- Administration a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Methody
- Tampering or attempted tampering any part of the Sample Collection
- Trafficking or attempted trafficking
- Complicity or Attempted Complicity
- Prohibited Association
- Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities
What that means for you….
Athletes need to make sure they are fully aware of ALL the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and what the consequences are for breaking them. Refusing a test, as an example, could lead to four-year ban.
And remember, ADRVs are just like the rules in sport – it’s out or it’s in, it’s an official time or it’s not – but that is not everything.
Clean sport is more than rules – it is also how you train and compete in sport, and how you conduct yourself both on and off the field of play.
Doping can have a financial, legal and social consequences.
Social consequences
The life of an athlete who was found guilty of doping may be completely disrupted. Indeed, doping may represent a danger for the health but it may also be prejudicial to fame, respect and credibility. Even future negative findings are regularly questioned by the media and others. The poor image will remain in the collective unconscious and the athlete will remain isolated.
Financial consequences
As regards high-performance sport, an infringement of anti-doping rules often leads to a loss of income, the reimbursement of prize moneys and of sponsorship money. An athlete suspended for several years, or even banned for life, cannot earn his/her living as usual and can even be forced into debts to live on a day-to-day basis.
Legal consequences
Doping may have major legal consequences. A doped athlete may be suspended, i.e. he/she may not take part in sport competition or in organised training sessions.
But the most important, doping may have a very severe health issues
Medical consequences
Physical health: depending on the substance, the dosage and the consumption frequency, doping products may have particularly negative side effects on health. Some damages for the body are irreversible and may lead that the athlete’s life be in great danger.
Some examples that have been scientifically evidenced are:
- Acne
- Palpitations
- Headaches
- Anemia
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness or fainting
- Liver damage
- Premature closure of the growth centers of long bones
- Stunted growth and disruption of puberty in children
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia
- Respiratory diseases
Psychological health: Some doping substances may not be detrimental to the body but exercise an impact on mental health. It was scientifically evidenced that:
- Anxiety
- Sleep Problems (insomnia)
- Irritability
- Increased aggressiveness
- Depression
- Obsessive disorders
- Resulting in abnormal sexual behaviour
- Dependence
- Psychosis are direct consequences from doping
- Mood instability
To make the global anti-doping system work, together with other athletes around the world, need to commit to the athlete’s anti-doping responsibilities.
What do you need to know?
The World Anti-Doping Code states the roles and responsibilities that athletes have in relation to anti-doping.
So, you must:
- know and abide by the Anti-Doping Rules, policies and practices
- be available for testing at all times
- take responsibility for what you ingest or use
- tell medical professionals that they should not use prohibited substances or methods, as per the WADA Prohibited List, and that any advice or treatment given to an athlete should not violate the Anti-Doping Rules
- tell Virtus if you have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation within the last 10 years
- co-operate in any doping investigations when asked to do so
- disclose the identity of your support personnel upon request from an Anti-Doping Organisation
Athlete’s Anti-Doping Rights Act
The new Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act promotes athlete rights within anti-doping and ensures they are clearly outlined, accessible, and universally applicable, so athletes have the right :
- to participate in doping-free competitions
- to receive timely and objective information on the asserted anti-doping rules violations
- impartial examination of allegations of anti-doping rule violation
- to appeal with respect of the asserted anti-doping rules violation and imposed sanctions
e.g. an athlete has the right to receive anti-doping education.
Athlete Responsibilities
- Know your anti-doping rights and responsibilities
- Attend education sessions when they are made available
- Speak to other athletes and your support personnel about clean sport
What that means?
- You need to take anti-doping seriously and fully understand the principle of strict liability.
- Strict liability means that you are solely responsible for any banned substance you use, attempt to use, or is found in your system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat.
- In anti-doping, not knowing is not an excuse!
And during doping control, you have certain rights and responsibilities too.
You have the right to:
- A representative;
- An interpreter, if available;
- Ask for additional information regarding the sample collection process and document any concerns;
- Request a delay in reporting to the doping control station for valid reasons providing you are chaperoned during the delay;
- Request to have at least 3 doping control kits to choose from;
- Request to have at least 3 sample collection sterilized vessels to choose from;
- Request modifications to the sample collection process.
You have the responsibility to:
- Remain within the sight of sample collection personnel throughout the doping control process;
- Produce identification;
- Comply with sample collection procedures;
- Report immediately to the doping control station for testing unless delayed for valid reasons;
- Maintain control of your sample until it is sealed.
And after the control:
- Request and attend the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding); and
- In the case of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) being asserted, the Athlete has the right to a fair hearing and the right to appeal the hearing decision.
What is an “Athlete Support Personnel”?
If you are a coach, trainer, medical doctor, physiotherapist, parent, administrator of a sport organization or any other person involved with sport who helps athletes in their competitive life – play a vital role in ensuring that athletes are fulfilling their responsibility towards clean sport.
If you are an “Athlete Support Personnel”, your Rights and Responsibilities are:
First of all: Protec the Clean Sport!
What do you need to know?
The World Anti-Doping Code states the roles and responsibilities that ASP have in relation to anti-doping.
This means you must:
- Know and comply with the Anti-Doping Rules, policies and practices that apply to you as well as those that apply to the athletes you support
- Co-operate with the testing programme for athletes
- Use your influence on athletes positively to foster clean sport values and behaviours
- Tell Virtus and your National Federation if you have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation in the last 10 years
- Co-operate with any doping investigation when asked to do so
- Not use or possess any prohibited substance or prohibited method without a valid and justifiable reason
What that means for you?
- Anti-doping is complex and needs attention from all who are bound by the Anti-Doping Rules.
- Remember, you too could face a ban from sport, not just the athletes. This in most cases is career ending.
- Take your responsibilities towards anti-doping seriously and help those around you (practitioners and athletes) do the same.
- There is no sympathy for ignorance or carelessness in anti-doping. Make sure you are up to date with everything you need to know to protect you and your athletes.
What you should do?
- Take the opportunity to be educated on anti-doping matters either through Virtus, your National Governing Body, Sports Institution or Professional Association
- Have conversations within your sporting environment on anti-doping. Encourage regular engagement in clean sport activities and events.
- Familiarise yourself with the universal rights available to athletes within anti-doping, which are set out in the WADA Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act
Athlete Support Personal are bound by the Anti-Doping Rules too. You need to be fully aware of what that means for you, and what you need to do!
Communication on Privacy and Protection of Personal Information collected under Virtus Anti-Doping Program
Virtus informs all partners and parties involved in the Anti-Doping Program (including Virtus athletes and their entourage) that its practices and procedures comply with international applicable rules on data privacy, including the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information.
Virtus, being an international para-sport federation, and thus the Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) in charge of fight against doping in Intelectual impaired para-sports, is liable, in the light of its missions, to collect personal information of various types (demographic, medical, regulatory information, etc…).
As part of its Compliance Program with the World Anti-doping Code, Virtus Anti-doping Committee undertakes to:
- Collect only personal data necessary for work procedures, as per applicable international standards including the International Standard for Testing and Investigations
- Use personal data only for the processing of applications or the needs of files related to the fight against doping, and share it only on a need-to-know basis
- Keep records only for the duration of the period when this is necessary as per the applicable regulations
- Share copies or versions only with the anti-doping or legally concerned staffs, including those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in other countries where the Participant could attend competitions, train or travel;
- Disclose publicly information collected within the Virtus Anti-Doping Program only if authorized by applicable regulations
- Respect the Participant’s rights related to personal information privacy as set out in the International Standards, including his right to file a claim,
- Ensure the confidential and fair treatment of personal data collected under the Anti-Doping Program, without discrimination of any kind.
Virtus, in its continued effort to keep sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment drug-free, offers a way to report any suspected cases of doping in our sports. We encourage everyone to help Virtus protect clean athletes and preserve the integrity of our sport.
Every time someone steps forward with information on doping, we move closer to a clean and fair playing field for all athletes. We appreciate that coming forward with sensitive information is a big decision and one that you may not enter into lightly.
Virtus would be grateful to you for showing the courage and conviction required to raise concerns about cheating through the use of drugs in sport.
You have chosen to put your trust in us and we take this very seriously. For this reason, Virtus provides a secure way for you to report activity that you think goes against anti-doping rules. Because our athletes are at the heart of everything we do, any information provided will be kept strictly confidential.
If you have any information about drug use in Virtus sports please contact: [email protected]
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Virtus is the brand name of the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the UK (1173901)