Anti-Doping

Badminton South Africa fully subscribes to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures.  According to these, under the strict liability rule, athletes are responsible for any substance that may be found in their bodies.

Every athlete has the right to compete in clean and fair sport. Doping and match manipulation are contrary to the spirit of sport.

BWF’s anti-doping programme involves a) awareness raising & education, b) monitoring through testing, c) investigations and d) results management. Athletes are at the centre of the programme because we must protect their rights to compete in “clean and fair sport”.

Rights and Responsibilities

The most important message about rights and responsibilities is that “Every athlete has the right to clean and fair sport”.

To achieve this everyday, we all have responsibilities to apply excellent practice and respect and apply good sports values to keep badminton free from doping and match manipulation.

Athletes can be tested in- and out-of-competition, anytime, anywhere and with no advance notice and within this means there are many obligations to fulfil. Furthermore, the principle of “strict liability” applies in anti-doping. This principle means that if it is in the athlete’s body, the athlete is responsible for it.

Athletes are responsible for: (but not limited to):

  1. complying with the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations and all relevant BWF policies, codes and competition regulations (Code of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, General Competitions Regulations, Laws of Badminton);
  2. being available for sample collection (urine or blood) – both in-competition and out-of-competition;
  3. everything that they eat, drink or take – ensuring that no prohibited substance enters his/her body and that no prohibited method is used;
  4. making sure that any medical treatment is not prohibited according to the Prohibited List in force and checking this with the doctor / physician that is prescribing the medication;
  5. applying to the BWF (or your national anti-doping organization) for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) if no alternative permitted treatment is possible and is required because of your medical condition;
  6. reporting immediately for sample collection after being notified of a doping control;
  7. ensuring the accuracy of the information entered on the doping control form during sample collection (including stating any medications and supplements taken within the seven days prior to sample collection, and where the sample collected is a blood sample, blood transfusions within the previous three months);
  8. cooperating with anti-doping organizations investigating anti-doping rules violations (ADRVs); and
  9. not working with coaches, trainers, physicians or other athlete support personnel who are ineligible on account of an ADRV or who have been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping (see WADA’s Prohibited Association List).

The Doping Control process to collect urine or blood samples is a regular part of participation in sport? This is a very structured set of steps and the athletes have responsibilities to comply with the Doping Control Officer in that process, but also athletes have rights.

It is important  during doping control, the athlete must remain within direct observation of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone at all times from when the initial contact is made until the completion of the sample collection procedure. The athlete must also produce identification upon request.

What are athletes rights during Doping Control? (urine or blood sample collection). See the BWF statement on the rights of athletes during doping control (download above).

In summary – Athletes’ rights include (but are not limited to) during the doping control:

  1. bringing a representative and, if available, an interpreter.
  2. asking for additional information about the sample collection process;
  3. requesting a delay in reporting to the doping control station for valid reasons (International Standard for Testing and Investigations Art. 5.4.4); and
  4. requesting modifications for athletes with impairments (if applicable).
  5. requesting and attending the B sample analysis (in the case of an Adverse Analytical Finding); and
  6. 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.
WADA Resources

The World Anti-Doping Agency has a wide range of resources for athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators including the:

The Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) platform

The Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) platform offers access to clean sport and anti-doping.