All athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing that they, and their competitors, are clean. We believe in clean sport and work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and our International Federation, World Archery, to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected. Archery GB has put a set of anti-doping rules in place that all athletes and athlete support personnel must abide by.
We believe in clean, fair sport and we work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and our International Federation, World Archery, to ensure that the integrity of our sport is protected.
Archery GB has put a set of anti-doping rules in place that all athletes and athlete support personnel must abide by. The anti-doping rules for Archery GB are consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport globally.
The anti-doping rules of Archery GB are the rules published by UK Anti-Doping (or its successor), as amended from time to time. If you are a member of Archery GB then the anti-doping rules apply to you, regardless of what level you participate at.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its 2023 Prohibited List. The Prohibited List designates the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport.
Following an extensive consultation period by WADA, the 2023 Prohibited List was published on 29 September 2022. This gives athletes and support personnel sufficient time to make themselves aware of the changes, review any medications they use on Global DRO, and apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) if required before the updated list comes into effect on 1 January 2023.
Please visit UK Anti-Doping's website here to read a summary of the changes on the 2023 list and information on Tramadol, which will be prohibited in-competition from 1 January 2024.
The following resources are also available to read on WADA’s website:
• The full 2023 Prohibited List
• The WADA 2023 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes
• The 2023 Monitoring Programme which includes substances not currently on the list, but are being monitored by WADA for potential patterns of misuse in sport.
Breaking the anti-doping rules can result in a ban from all sport. The Code outlines the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Athletes and athlete support personnel need to make sure they are fully aware of these violations, and the consequences of breaking them. For more information on ADRVs and what these mean for those individuals visit this page. For information on individuals serving a ban from sport, visit UKAD’s sanction page on their website.
An athlete is responsible for anything found in their system, regardless of how it got there or whether there is any intention to cheat. All athletes and athlete support personnel should make themselves aware of the risks, so they don’t receive an unintentional ban from sport. Useful anti-doping information for athletes can be found on the UKAD website.
All prohibited substances and methods in Code-compliant sports are outlined in the Prohibited List. The Prohibited List is managed and coordinated by WADA, and can be found on the WADA website. The list is updated each year, coming into effect on 1 January. It is possible for WADA to make changes to the list more than once a year, but they must communicate such changes three months before they come into effect. As this list is updated annually, athletes and athlete support personnel should make sure they check it ahead of it coming into effect. More information on the Prohibited List can be found on UKAD’s website.
Before taking any medication (whether from a doctor or purchased over the counter), athletes must check to make sure it doesn’t contain any prohibited substances. Medications (ingredients or brand name) can be checked online at Global DRO. It is important to note that medications bought in one country may contain different ingredients to the same branded medication in another country. For more information on checking medications, visit UKAD’s website.
Check out the video below from UKAD’s Athlete Commission member and British Paralympic Powerlifter, Ali Jawad, on using Global DRO.
Archery GB and UKAD always advise a food first approach to nutrition, as there are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from prohibited substances. Athletes can support their training and progress towards their targets by eating and enjoying nutritious food. With a bit of planning, it is possible to eat a delicious and healthy diet made up of a variety of food types at the right time, and in the right quantities. Athletes should assess the need, the risks and the consequences before deciding to take a supplement, and if they need to use one, visit the Informed Sport website to check whether supplements have been batch-tested. More advice on managing supplement risks can be found on UKAD’s Supplement Hub.
If an athlete with a legitimate medical condition needs to use a prohibited substance or method, they will need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). This is only accepted if there are no other suitable permitted medications or treatments that can be used, and there is a strict, detailed process to determine this. Athletes can find out more information about the TUE process on the UKAD website and use the TUE Wizard to find out whether they need to apply for a TUE and who to submit their application to.
Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a Chaperone or Doping Control Officer. Check out this video below on the testing process from start to finish.
Athletes can find out more in the Introduction to Testing section of UKAD’s website.
100% me is UKAD’s values-based education and information programme, helping athletes meet their anti-doping responsibilities throughout their sporting journey. We want all athletes to be clean, stay clean and believe all others are clean. For more information on what this means, visit UKAD’s website. UKAD’s 100% me Clean Sport App can also be downloaded here or through the Windows Live Store, for essential anti-doping information.
Protecting clean sport depends on everyone playing their part – athletes, coaches, or parents whether on centre stage or behind the scenes. Speak out if you feel there’s something wrong no matter how small. UKAD guarantees that your identity will always be kept 100% confidential.
There are different ways to speak out:
Find out more about speaking out about doping and Protect Your Sport here.
If you wish to improve your knowledge of clean sport and help to protect yourself and others you could become a Clean Sport Advisor. A Clean Sport Advisor plays an essential role in informing athletes and their support personnel (ASP) about the values of clean sport and the importance of anti-doping. To find out more and sign up for a Clean Sport Advisor course visit the Clean Sport Hub here.
Coach Clean is an easy-to-follow e-learning course for all coaches who want to know more about clean sport and understand their own responsibilities with regards to anti-doping. Please sign up at the Clean Sport Hub for further details.
When it comes to anti-doping, you have a vital role in helping your child to be clean and stay clean. UKAD have a useful guide to help you with this which you can read via this link.
Please do not hesitate to ask questions about the anti-doping rules. As well as asking Archery GB and athlete support personnel, athletes may also contact UKAD directly, who will be able to answer any questions and provide guidance. They can be contacted at ukad@ukad.org.uk or by calling +44 (0) 207 842 3450.
Regular updates from UKAD can also be found in the news section of their website or on their Twitter account.
You can also contact Archery GB’s anti-doping lead: stephanie.kelly@archerygb.org
