HUMAN BIOCHEMISTRY - L. V. Kapilevich - 2016

PART 2. BASICS OF SPORTS PHARMACOLOGY

THERAPEUTIC USE OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES

Athletes, just like non-athletes, require medical Treatment. Sometimes, substances needed for treatment are included in the list of prohibited drugs. Nevertheless, you may use necessary medications by obtaining prior Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) approval from your International Federation or Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC). In the event of a positive test result, the TUE is taken into account. If it is proven that the positive test result is due to therapeutic use, no sanctions are applied against the athlete.

The TUE application process consists of 4 stages:

1. In accordance with the rules, national-level athletes should apply to the TUEC, and international-level athletes to their International Federation, for a therapeutic use exemption. Typically, the application to the International Federation is submitted by the national sports federation.

2. Your attending physician must complete a special application form.

3. Submit the form for review to your International Federation or TUEC.

4. Try to complete this application Procedure as early as possible; the optimal timeframe is 21 days prior to THE START OF competition. Athletes who are not part of the registered testing pool but participate in international competitions must ensure that if a TUE is issued by the TUEC, it is validated by the International Federation before the competition.

Once your request is approved, you will receive a notification of the granted TUE, along with a certificate specifying the dosages and duration of use for the prohibited substance.

Remember that a TUE is always granted for a strictly defined period. You must follow your physician's prescriptions, adhering to the dosages and prescribed administration Methods. Also, keep in mind that a TUE is issued solely for health reasons and must not lead to an enhancement of the athlete's performance.

In the event that your TUE application is denied, you have the right to request a review of the decision by WADA (at your own expense). If WADA upholds the decision of your anti-doping Organization or International Federation, you may appeal this decision to the national appeal body for national-level athletes, or to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for international-Class athletes. WADA reserves the right to review and re-evaluate all TUEs granted by a federation or anti-doping organization.

For certain medications intended for the treatment of asthma (such as formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol, terbutaline administered via inhalation), as well as for topical glucocorticosteroids, an abbreviated TUE procedure exists (ATUE). You must complete a special application form either through your national anti-doping agency (for national-level athletes) or your International Federation (for international-level athletes). The form must be completed by your attending physician and submitted to the anti-doping organization or International Federation. An ATUE is granted immediately upon receipt of the request by the anti-doping organization or International Federation, meaning you do not need to wait for formal approval notification. Your ATUE may be reviewed at any time by the relevant anti-doping organization and revoked. You will be notified if any additional information is required.

Self-Assessment Questions

1. Under what conditions may the intake of prohibited substances be permitted?

2. What are the stages for obtaining a therapeutic use exemption for prohibited substances?

3. What is the procedure for appealing the denial of a therapeutic use exemption for prohibited substances?